This is an old eucalyptus tree, down by the beach where I love to walk or sit and look. I happened to notice it a few days ago, while I was resting after a good walk. Do you see how crooked some of those branches are? And how the one on the bottom is sort of holding up the bigger one just above it?
I’ve looked at this tree dozens of times, but this is the first time that I noticed how gnarled it is. And how the branches are helping each other grow.
And I reflected for a few minutes on all the ‘branches’ that have helped me to grow over this long life of mine. My parents, my brothers, my extended family, my husband, my in-laws, my children, my grandchildren, my close friends, my professors, my fellow students, my parishioners, my directees. It’s a long list!
So when I got back home and looked carefully at this picture, I just took a minute to say ‘thank you’ for all the good, sturdy branches God has put around me.
Who has supported you along the way?
The Sisterhood, near and far….oh my, I don’t think I would have made it without their support!!
Amen to that, Gwen.
So so many. Especially these past nine years. Where would I be? Such grace.
It is so good to remember and recount these friends who hold us up, isn’t it, Carol? So, so grateful you’ve had a ‘tribe’ around you during these tough years.