I’ve written about friendship more times than I can count. Probably because one of the greatest gifts God has given me in this life is some phenomenal women.
I have a forest of these friendships. Large old redwoods where the roots go down so deep that the tree can’t be moved. Tall pine trees that aren’t as thick and deep as their sisters but have provided incredible shade and protection during this season. New fir trees that have brought unexpected joy and diversity.
This morning, in a matter of three hours, three trees encircled me exactly how I needed. A divine gift.
My emotions have been all over the map lately. But anger isn’t one that has crowded in much. Until last night. I got crazy angry. No one saw it. The worst of it, for sure. It kept me wide awake. I knew the anger was WAY out of proportion to the thing(s) I was angry about, but it completely submerged me.
I lay there late into the night asking God, please show me the heart of this anger. Help me understand why I’m having this emotion beyond what I should. Please take this away.
While I finally drifted off, I fell asleep with no answers and woke up with it sitting on my heart like a weight.
Right before I left for radiation, I received that incredible text above. From one of the oldest trees in my forest. She and I have been prayer partners for over 15 years and have seen each other in the highs and lows. She has so faithfully prayed me through this season that I could tangibly feel it.
This morning, when I responded to her gorgeous prayer with thankfulness, I explained what had happened. She responded with this:
If that is not the most perfect response, then I don’t even know what is. I could have cried.
Then. Tree Number Two shows up. I call her wailing about this ridiculous emotional battle. First, she showed insane empathy. She could teach a class. Then she explained how it happens to her. And then she got angry for me and let me let it go. (Even though she is going through SO MUCH this week – her own big battles!)
Finally, if it wasn’t extravagant enough to have these two gifts from God, tree three waves good morning. She and I start talking and she just gives me permission to feel HOWEVER I want but then to go lay it down with the Lord. Then she says she’s coming over to pray with me. Just driving over to pray me through the ick.
And so she does. She takes me to pick up my car at the service station to boot!
Today started hard. But God is so faithful to remind me I am one tree in a forest full of trees. If I feel the wind knocking me about, my roots are intertwined with all of these other trees to keep me upright. In an article entitled, How do Trees Work Together to Help Their Communities, the author writes:
Another way trees can share is by root grafting. This is a process in which roots of different trees grow in the same area, overlap, and physically fuse together. Trees of different species are even capable of fusing their roots together and turning the combined root structures into one massive underground circulatory system. All of this is pretty remarkable and explains how trees can share vital nutrients among one another even when they seem to be spread far apart from one another.
Incredibly thankful for all of the incredible trees who share their goodness in my life. I pray I return the favor.
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