THE GIFT OF ROOTS
I recently found out, that the best wood comes from trees that grow together. They strengthen and protect each other. Like the support system of good family and friends, even neighborhoods, perhaps, even countries. Trees that grow alone are more likely to have gnarls and grow in odd directions. After that information was absorbed, I started thinking about the many ways that trees reflect our own life circumstances.
Sometimes, after a bad storm, sadly, we see a seemingly healthy tree that has been uprooted. Its existence cut short by the winds and elements of life. It might have stood for years, managing through far worse storms than the one that felled it. It is like that in life. Deep roots and the protection of other trees around us are of help when the storms of life come, the deeper the roots and the better the support system of protection around us, the better for the health of the tree.
Deep roots develop from times when the tree has to struggle a bit and stretch its roots for deeper water. Too much easy to get, surface water can cause a tree to develop shallow roots or even rot away. Disease and pests can also enter a tree. If those invaders are not quickly recognized and eliminated, the tree will be weakened from the inside, just as people.
Our faith, deep convictions and beliefs are like the roots of a tree. The diseases and pests that weaken trees are like the evils we put into our bodies physically, mentally and verbally. They can destroy us from the inside out.
The tough times we go through in life, are the events that cause us to really stretch our roots for nourishment, strengthening the whole tree.
Are we ready for storms? Are our roots deep enough? Do we value and nourish the support team around us?
We sometimes don’t have a choice about where we find ourselves planted, but we have more choices than a tree. Wherever we have been planted we can choose to look toward the sun, keep growing strong, and count among our blessings, the other trees that stand to support and protect us.
To help ourselves and our children be prepared for storms, we have to do what we can to help them develop strong roots and a support system.
And with those roots, give them their wings, to help them wisely leave the nest and be unafraid to flap those wings. What are wings for, if we never use them to fly?
THE GIFT OF WINGS
Another valuable gift is “Wings”. Some might say “the gift of wings” is an education, some might say its life skills, and others might argue that it might be the courage or ambition to try. To me the wings are the dream, but the courage to use them carefully, wisely, and successfully is the gift.
Your “winged dreams” may have been presented upon your shoulders like a mantle of honor from generations pasted. They might be a “family gift” you are expected to accept without question. If you can’t see yourself flying with them, you may have to recheck, and make sure they belong to you. If they fit, you have a head start in flying your pretested wings. OR……
Your wings or dreams might be uniquely yours, forged with your own mind and hands. Some dreams are simple and strong. Some are fancy. Some may be too wispy for the real world, and unfortunately, those wispy ones, can’t really take you any where. They must be well put together and made strong, by developing correct skills, hard work with lots of practice, and the proper planning for flight. You need a good instructor, an educator! Someone to teach and train and strengthen you!
After you’ve gathered the knowledge and gained the skills and confidence, enough that you believe that you deserve success, and your wings are strong enough to handle the trying currents of the wind, even if you’re batted about. Your well-built wings are adaptable and flexible enough to change direction if necessary, while you still keep the end goal in sight. You must test your wings with care. They are not meant to show off with wild impulsive risks.
Trust in your self! Trust in your support system, even in the deep core roots of what created you. Give yourself the power to fly with your dreams! How far can your wings take you?
If you never try to fly. You will never successfully fly.
Sometimes you will fail, but often you will succeed. When you are older and look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do, far more than the things you did. If by chance you shouldn’t be successful on the first flight, be grateful for the trees that help to break the fall, and any support to help you get to re-group, re-build and try taking flight again.
Emerson said, to be happy, you must have someone to love, something to do, and something to look forward to. I think these are what you have with deep roots and strong wings that are flapping.
The gift of wings is giving your children or friends or your spouse, even yourself, the confidence to use their “wings”. This remarkable gift can ignite the courage and enthusiasm to believe in dreams and the abilities to reach them. The gift of deep rooted convictions, like faith, honesty, integrity, along with friend and family support are priceless.
This is how to be the wind beneath their wings.
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