Did some Christmas shopping today and purchased myself a one piece suit of Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer patterned pajamas. They have a little Rudolph hood with the red nose. My son’s reaction was priceless when I walked in the kitchen dressed in the pajamas with the hood on. He said, “Do you need constant supervision now?” and we both laughed. I’m sure he was thinking it was time for Shady Oaks. The pajamas don’t have feet in them but the pjs fit over my clothes and when the house is cold it keeps me from turning on my gas guzzling furnace named Bertha. I kinda use them as a housecoat. I love them especially when they have feet in them. I’ve almost worn out the feet in my other Christmas ones so I just put socks over them!

Beautiful drive to LaGrange, Georgia this morning. Lots of blue sky, bleached white clouds, wisps and line clouds, one morphing into a feather cloud, colorful fall leaves catching the warm sunshine in the forests along the country highway. I love riding over the Chattahoochee River bridge and glancing over at the eagle’s nest. Sometimes I’ll see them but not today. Several times through the years I’ve seen the eaglets with their parents on the nest. So beautiful!

Kahil Gibran said, “Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.” I thought of that quote as I drove home and watched the afternoon sun filtering down through the trees, highlighting the trunks. Some of the trees still partly dressed in their coats of many colors. Others standing tall in their naked limbs, the oak’s limbs adorned with mistletoe balls. Some standing majestically their foliage green with life.

We’re a lot like trees. We have seasons in our lives and weather storms and winds, learning how to stand tall in the face of adversity, rooted in our faith in God. Trees change through the seasons and learn to bend and not break, rooted in Mother Earth’s soil. Some of us go through our lives not shedding any leaves, safe and happy in our growth. Others bend and break weathering life’s storms, shedding their leaves, transforming themselves, eventually finding roots in their faith.

Our faith and our spiritual roots help us grow and spread our branches. We need to stand tall and unwavering in the face of life’s challenges. Just like the trees leave a legacy of seeds and shade, we leave a legacy of our faith to bless our families and help guide their futures.

Trees shelter us from rain and cool us with their shade. God shelter’s us from life’s trials when we lay our burdens down through prayer. God nourishes us through his words and responds to us when we pray. Our spiritual roots sustain us in difficult times.

“Be like a tree. Stay grounded. Connect with your roots. Turn over a new leaf. Bend before you break. Enjoy your unique natural beauty. Keep growing.” — Tiny Buddha