Several years ago, the Mrs. and I took our vacation in South Carolina & Savannah. What a great time we had there. The history, the culture, and just the southern charm were enough to endear us for a lifetime (not to mention the food).
We stayed at several bed & breakfast inns while there and one stood out amongst the rest. Rated one of the top in the country, the Mansfield Plantation did not disappoint. The history and charm were something to both enjoy and reflect upon. The original cottage we stayed in was built in the 1700s and looked over the river.
One morning, I decided to get up early and catch the sunrise. The trees on the property were extremely old and had weathered many-a-hurricane. The photo today of the sun rising behind this beautiful tree was taken that morning and, to this day, is one of my favorites for many reasons.
The tree had to be one of the oldest around and stood majestically from the rest. In order for it to have lived for the time it has, probably over a hundred years, it had to have deep roots to keep it from blowing over from the hurricane force winds they get off the coast of South Carolina from time-to-time.
Those deep roots also kept the tree strong from the river flooding that would rise and threaten to wash everything away. Truly, it stands as a testament to how deeply rooted it must be and that is probably the reason this photo is one of my favorites.
It says to me, ‘there’s hope’. If we just allow our roots to grow deep enough, the winds of life and the flood waters that rise won’t take us away with them. We will be able to stand strong and not only survive the storms, but also be a support to others around us.
The more deeply rooted we are in life, the more we can be of strength to others. The more we will be able to stretch our arms out and cover the weak and the frail from the blazing sun that threatens them.
When the Mrs. and I first moved to the historic district here in McKinney, TX, I had a dream of a tree quite like the one in this photo. It was as though the Lord was saying that He will establish our lives here and that our roots will grow deep in the community around us. Every day, this dream continues to become more and more true in our lives.
As we support our neighbors, the downtown, our friends in the area, and be part of the city functions, our roots grow deeper and deeper. My hope is that we will be that tree on a hill for those around us and that our roots will grow to the point we can encourage and bless even more people.
We don’t always know where we’ll land in life, but if we allow ourselves to take root through the storms and keep building a life of love for others, over time, our roots will grow strong. If we pull up our roots and transplant ourselves at the sound of every storm, we’ll never take root and have the strength to support others let alone ourselves.
Today, I want to encourage you that, if life seems to be pressing against you, to dig deeper and let your roots grow. Hang on, because the best may be yet to come and as you grow, you will be a strength to others around you who may have to deal with the same storm you made it through. Over time, you will be that tree that stands strong during the floods and the storms. You will be strong and a life to all those around you.
Love always friend,
Brad
