Dear Claudia, My Birthday Tree Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it. Genesis 28:18 What a beautiful month this is! I remember the trees back on our family farm in Maryland rustling their colorful skirts, ablaze in wild reds and crazy yellows. Of all the oaks, maples, and pines on our farm, one particular tree was my favorite. It was an old, spreading maple growing by the spring house. In October its leaves were resplendent in red, tinged with purple edges. And I know that on my birthday, October 15, this maple would reach its peak of color as it did every year. For this reason, I called it my birthday tree. Each year my tree marked how far Id come or what I had or hadnt done. It was my stone of remembrance. Jacob had a stone of remembrance. He heaped together a pillar of stones to mark the spot where God had pledged in a dream to watch over Jacob and to bless his descendants. The pillar of stones was a visible, concrete reminder that God had touched his life. Thats what birthdays are, too -- our private marks in time, our stones of remembrance. I want my birthday, like that maple tree, to be a mark of change in my life. Something to show progress and growth. On October 15th, Id always call my sister on the farm and ask her about that old tree. She told me one year that it lost a big limb. It was beginning to show signs of age. So am I, but, hey, Im still growing. __________________________________ What reminds you of growth in your life? What is your stone of remembrance? Do you have some tangible reminder of how far youve come and how far you need to go? Be it a birthday tree, a photograph or whatever, God wants you to be reminded of how He has met with you and touched your life. Thank You, Father, for occasions worthy of stones of remembrance. Never let me forget the ways You have declared Your presence in my life. Blessings, Joni and Friends
Posted on: Fri, 08 Nov 2013 15:17:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015