Love-Hate Relationship With A Tree

I have a love-hate relationship with a tree.
There, I said it.
It seems ridiculous to even describe my feelings that way.
However, I can easily articulate all the reasons why I feel the way I do.

Trees intrigue me.
They loom large around my house.
They conglomerate in the woods behind me, giving an air of mystery to my backyard.
The woods hide all sorts of animals that only come out at night.

I cannot find the tree that is home to an owl.
I hear the owl but the acoustics play tricks on me.
Every time I think I know where the hooting sound is coming from, it changes.
I am bound and determined to find the tree in which the allusive owl lives.

A certain tree in the woods is where the hunters put their deer stand.
I will discover where the deer stand is when the trees drop their leaves.
The deer population is so great that controlled bow hunting is allowed.
There is even a fox in our woods that will scurry in a russet colored flash from time to time.

Trees point to the Master Artist this time of year.
The colors in His palette are a feast for the eyes.
I see tinges of color as I walk each morning.
It is just a matter of time before the trees explode in red, and orange, and yellow.

It is the tree in our front lawn that is the culprit.
It is the object of my love-hate relationship.
Every other season, I have no problem with the tree.
However, it is in the fall when the tree becomes my nemesis.

It is the tree on which my husband hung the tree swing he made for our youngest daughter.
It is the swing on which so many have kicked their legs with abandon.
There is something so inviting about seeing a tree swing swaying in the breeze.
There is something whimsical about its presence.

There is no age stipulation for the tree swing.
Being a child at heart is all that matters.
We have a swing set that my husband made near the woods in our backyard.
That swing set has served five children well and is ready for the next generation.

It is the tree in our front yard that tries my patience.
This tree makes itself known.
This tree is like a toddler, since I am always cleaning up after it.
It is a walnut tree that causes all the problems.

This time of year, the walnuts fall onto the grass and the driveway.
Not only the walnuts but long sticks fall from the tree.
Not only walnuts and long sticks but small leaves litter the driveway.
You cannot walk without stepping on some of the debris from the walnut tree.

If the walnuts simply fell, we could easily collect them and throw them into the woods.
However, the squirrels get to them first.
The squirrels break open the soft shell to get to the walnut inside.
The soft shells are all over the driveway.

Lest anyone think I am being too particular about this, an explanation is necessary.
The soft shells are dark brown inside.
That dark brown is the lovely walnut stain we love on our furniture and cabinets.
That dark brown color is not something we want to bring in on our shoes.

Without wiping our feet, or taking off our shoes all together, our rugs will stain.
Brown marks will be wherever we have placed our feet.
Through the years, we have learned the hard way.
People who come to visit may not know the mess that a walnut tree leaves in its wake.

The squirrels will bury the walnuts in my mulch.
I will not know where they buried it until I see the beginning of a tree in the spring.
A beautiful tree, home to a wonderful tree swing, is also a nuisance.
The debris is everywhere.

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (Galatians 5:16-26)

I have a love-hate relationship with a tree.
Yet, God, in His great love, has a love relationship with me.
My life, like yours, is littered with debris.
That debris is the sin that so easily entangles. (Hebrews 12:1)

In Christ, God the Father has only a love relationship with us.
We are like the walnut tree with the swing swaying in the gentle breeze.
If we are not in Christ, and want no part of God, we are the debris in the driveway.
God the Father sees our sin when we are not covered with the saving blood of Jesus.

If we are not in Christ, God the Father sees our sin.
If we are in Christ, God the Father sees His Son.
The debris will always be there this side of heaven.
However, in Christ, the Father sees the beauty of his beloved.

I never realized how very much like the walnut tree we really are.
We can sweep away our debris but one stiff breeze will bring it right back again.
The only way our sins are gone, forgiven, is when we come to Jesus alone for our salvation.
It is impossible to try to clean up our debris in our own strength.

I have a love-hate relationship with a tree.
God has a love relationship with me and with you if you have trusted in Jesus alone.
You can sweep forever and a day and never be totally clean.
However, God removes the debris of our sin in an instant, as far as the east is from the west.

Find a walnut tree.
Notice all the debris that is littered beneath it.
Ponder and pray.
Come to Jesus.

Father, I cannot remove the debris from my life on my own. I need you to sweep it clean. Thank you that in Christ my relationship with You is one of love. You have removed my sin as far as the East is from the West and declared me clean. Thank you.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

2 responses to “Love-Hate Relationship With A Tree”

1. There were 3 English walnut trees in my Grandparents’ back yard (the house where I grew up), so I can definitely relate! They were finally cut down this summer—what a wonderful difference. Maybe it’s time to let go and plant a cleaner tree in honor of your new Granddaughter—it will be “her tree” as it grows up with her.

   Reply

   • Linda,
     It sounds like you do know what I mean about the walnut tree! Planting a new tree for my granddaughter is a lovely idea, but I cannot cut a perfectly good tree down just because it is a nuisance this time of year. I will live with the mess and the memories, a bit reluctantly, I admit.
     Gina

     Reply