My Tree and Me

Dear Reader:

I think a friend of mine, Dee Lesko, and myself were on the same thought wave yesterday.

All five grandchildren’s Japanese Maples are breaking out in leaves all over -the girls’ are green leaves with pink tints and the three boys’ all shades of red. Both types-beautiful. So I thought I would make some metaphors and connections between us and our favorite trees growing up-mine was a crabapple where I went to read and escape the world!

Dee made a connection between tax deadlines in April and the most famous tax agent in scripture Zacchaeus. He was quite unpopular since he was a. Jewish tax collector working for Rome.

As small children in Bible School or Sunday School acting out the ” wee little song ” about him in the sycamore tree was always a favorite.

Zacchaeus desperately wanted to meet Jesus and climbed the tree to get His attention-it worked and he even got to have Jesus as a guest for dinner!

The crowd was shocked at the verbal exchange -in fact the ” polls” back then would most likely have been quite low for Jesus’ decision and appalled remarks would have started the evening news stations.

What the population didn’t understand was that ” The the Son of Man” came to heal the sick and save what was lost” and poor Zacchaeus was definitely in that category.

I didn’t climb a sycamore tree yesterday but I did climb the steps to the top deck to look down on my garden sanctuary that fills my heart with blessings as I watch my grandchildren along with their trees grow.

I hope the day never comes when I would have to leave my garden and ” family trees” behind-so I appreciate every minute of every day!

Come with me and look down with new insights on my sanctuary

Jake
Lachlan
Rutledge
Eloise
Eva Cate

So until tomorrow ( Dee said it best) “Think about the “trees” God has planted in your life to support you and help you see Him better. Offer a prayer of thankfulness for each … and may we all strive to serve as “trees” in response.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”
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8 Responses to My Tree and Me

  1. Patty Knight says:

    Such a beautiful view!!!

  2. Rachel Edwards says:

    How neat…I want to do that…the next time I am there I am going to climb up there…your yard is beautiful…

  3. Nancy Chappelear says:

    The view of your Garden is great. Makes me want to come and spend sometime with you enjoying it.

  4. Lynn Gamache says:

    Yes, trees always beautiful in any season and always with life lessons and inspiration for all of us who will pause to listen. Love your idea of having those family trees in your garden and watching them grow even as your sweet grandchildren each grow and mature too.
    Here on our deck facing south we have two Japanese maples in huge pots. At all seasons they provide a happy landing place for our feathered friends and sometimes furry squirrels too. Right now our hummingbirds are the most frequent visitors…happy little ones who buzz in and out all day long looking for that sweet nectar (and sometimes we’re convinced they are looking for human company too!) Soon our trees will be leafing out and providing the shade we now need on our warmer spring days. YES, spring is here and our son is safely home from Burma and we are grateful!

    • Becky Dingle says:

      You have so much to be thankful for…and don’t we love Japanese Maples? So delicate…yet so strong…and always beautiful. Even more so when they are safely at home blooming in one’s presence. So happy your son arrived home…safe and sound.

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