My husband and I recently took a trip down to the coast. It was about a four hour drive. I sat in wonder as the closer we got to the ocean the more beautiful the countryside became. As we drove through the coastal mountain ranges I was struck by the perfectly manicured green hills with perfect little trees decorating them. You could tell that life had been good there. Plenty of sunshine, rain in it’s season. Not too harsh weather conditions.
But when we got to the ocean, a whole other picture was set before my eyes of magnificant beauty. The world opened up into eternity over the vast ocean and here the winds beat mercilessly year round. The trees here possessed a strength and beauty like none I have ever seen. You could see how the years of harsh winds had moulded each into a character of their own. Each tree possessed such personality you could not help but stare in the wonder of it all. Some of them you would even think to be quite deformed, yet still so mysteriously beautiful.
God used these trees to speak to my heart. Such a profound lesson was impressed upon me that words seem inadequate to express.
There are many lives just like those little manicured trees. They have what everyone wishes for. The sun shines on them, love surrounds them. Everything seems to be in their favor. They grow into beautiful people of good morals and productive lives.
But then there are lives that are born in a place where the winds of adversity are ever present. Hardship and adverse conditions meet them everyday. Some cannot stand the hardships and never get established and die. But the ones that take a deep root and hang on, grow up strong, and yes, sometimes appear to have certain deformities because of the constant whippings and lashings of life. Yet they possess a beauty of their own that, unlike the perfectly manicured trees that all seem to look the same, these have formed a unique character and a strength that is deep and secure. Just look at these pictures of some of the costal trees and let them teach you a lesson about life.
Oh God you are my God, and I will ever praise you!
I will seek you in the morning, and I will learn to walk in your ways,
And step by step you’ll lead me, and I will follow you all of my days.
Oh God you are my God, and I will ever praise you!
To see more pictures of our trip come visit my blog
Good lesson and very true! Those that have been through things and gone through them right have a different kind of beauty that others who haven’t don’t have. Kind of like what they were saying at the cabin how faith doesn’t develop and grow in the easy times – it’s in the bad times that our faith is tried and proved. Love ya!