Last week I had a very interesting discussion with my daughter on our drive to school early morning. The sky was grey, there was chill in the air foreboding the advent of winter season in our sunny California. Anything that takes our sunshine away is nothing less than evil to a true Californian.
She comment how she doesn't like Winter as it brings the grey melancholy sky, depressing rain and worst of all bare trees. "Oh, I just don't like bare trees. They look so sad and ugly."
Her last line caught my attention/ had me raise my eyebrow in concern. While I myself don't like winter that much. I just love trees. I love the different forms and shapes of trees in every seasons. I love the changing colors of tree leaves and flowers they adorn. I just love how stout they stand and brave the inclement weather. Ask my husband and he will shake his head and tell you how I ended up in an accident as I was admiring the beautiful fall color of this magnificent yellow tree while driving!! It is difficult to explain to an Insurance agent how I didn't watch the road as I was watching the tree!! (in my defense it was for a split second but there I was admiring the tree and making a mental note to bring my camera with me next day..)
So I decided to help my daughter try to see the other side of the coin. I asked her, "Do you know why trees shed leaves during fall?" She answered, "Yeah yeah, I know it is to prepare for winter." I probed,"How does it help the tree?" She said, "It closes all the pores so that frost doesn't get in the tree and kill it. I know all that Mamma. Its just I really miss these beautiful green leaves and flowers. It just doesn't look pretty bare."
"Well", I said, "have you thought of the beauty of a tree's survival instinct. The bravery of its soul and tenacity of its character while it sheds all its outer beauty so that it can protect the life form within?" I prodded her to consider the absolute beauty in the strength and bravery. "For a tree to know that it must shed all its lush leaves and flowers so that it can sprout the delicate bud of the spring in the due course of time when the weather is more forgiving/congenial/welcoming! It is to be bare and ugly on the outside now so that the future will bring beauty that it protect inside all winter. Is it not the strength that is the real beauty which is inside? We don't see it with our eyes but the tree has it inside all the time! Think about it!"
Is it not true to our human nature as well, to look and admire the beauty on the outside but overlook the beauty on the inside that is deeper, stronger and forever there compared to the outside beauty that may/will wither?
She comment how she doesn't like Winter as it brings the grey melancholy sky, depressing rain and worst of all bare trees. "Oh, I just don't like bare trees. They look so sad and ugly."
Her last line caught my attention/ had me raise my eyebrow in concern. While I myself don't like winter that much. I just love trees. I love the different forms and shapes of trees in every seasons. I love the changing colors of tree leaves and flowers they adorn. I just love how stout they stand and brave the inclement weather. Ask my husband and he will shake his head and tell you how I ended up in an accident as I was admiring the beautiful fall color of this magnificent yellow tree while driving!! It is difficult to explain to an Insurance agent how I didn't watch the road as I was watching the tree!! (in my defense it was for a split second but there I was admiring the tree and making a mental note to bring my camera with me next day..)
So I decided to help my daughter try to see the other side of the coin. I asked her, "Do you know why trees shed leaves during fall?" She answered, "Yeah yeah, I know it is to prepare for winter." I probed,"How does it help the tree?" She said, "It closes all the pores so that frost doesn't get in the tree and kill it. I know all that Mamma. Its just I really miss these beautiful green leaves and flowers. It just doesn't look pretty bare."
"Well", I said, "have you thought of the beauty of a tree's survival instinct. The bravery of its soul and tenacity of its character while it sheds all its outer beauty so that it can protect the life form within?" I prodded her to consider the absolute beauty in the strength and bravery. "For a tree to know that it must shed all its lush leaves and flowers so that it can sprout the delicate bud of the spring in the due course of time when the weather is more forgiving/congenial/welcoming! It is to be bare and ugly on the outside now so that the future will bring beauty that it protect inside all winter. Is it not the strength that is the real beauty which is inside? We don't see it with our eyes but the tree has it inside all the time! Think about it!"
Is it not true to our human nature as well, to look and admire the beauty on the outside but overlook the beauty on the inside that is deeper, stronger and forever there compared to the outside beauty that may/will wither?
 |
| My Favorite Fall Trees |
