A tree holds immense beauty in all its seasons of life. Flowering blossoms in bright hues adorn a tree in springtime. Lush green leaves on the tree reach out for the sun of summer while casting their cooling shade across the fields. Brilliant red, orange, and yellow leaves glow like embers with the shortening days of autumn. And the winter tree is brought inside, decorated with glimmering lights, glistening garlands, and sparkling ornaments to welcome the Christ child during the dark days of winter. We celebrate these seasons of trees.
Season of Trees
As I sit quietly in the glowing light radiating from my Christmas tree, I spot a darkened shadow. Beneath the lights and the decorations, something lurks. Beyond all the forest green needles, a bleak future stares back at me. Soon, all the beauty that envelopes the Christmas tree will fall away. We will move on from the festive lights of a Christmas tree to the dark blood-stained wood of the tree on Calvary. Christmas’s happiness soon gives way to the somber season of Lent.
Beauty of Trees
I come from a long line of tree-loving people. My grandfather lovingly pointed out and named each tree as we walked along pathways. My mother inherited the same love for trees. One of her favorite poems was “Trees” by Joyce Kilmer. I love the fact that throughout the Bible and Jesus’ ministry, trees play a predominant role in teaching. Depending on the version of the Bible, 296 verses mention trees. Some poems are used to instruct us on how to stand firm like a tree. While other verses show us what happens to a tree that does not bear fruit. Pictures of tree roots are even used to describe our ancestry in Christ.
Luckily, the tree story does not end with the tree of Calvary. Similarly, we do not remain stuck in a time of Lent. Another glorious tree awaits us in Revelations 22:2;
“It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.”
Revelations 22:2
The Forever Tree
The tree of life blooms forever along with our Risen Savior as its source of light. In Heaven, with Jesus, the tree of life will nourish us and heal us. My dream someday is to sit in the shade of the tree that existed from Genesis to Revelations.
I look forward to spending time listening to the King of Kings tell me about His trees as we walk along the golden pathways of Heaven.
Blessings,
Yvonne M Morgan, #Blogger, #Speaker, #Writer
Matthew 28:19 “Therefore, GO and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
100% of the proceeds from sales of my book, Turning Mountains Into Molehills, go to help the orphans at Orphan Relief Effort, Inc
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I love how you were able to focus on Christ through these seasons that trees undergo! Thank you for opening my eyes!
Thanks Julie. I appreciate your encouragement. I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas. God bless.
Beautiful post, Yvonne. I love how nature testifies of God’s creativity and His overwhelming love! Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas Gail and God bless you and your family.
Beautiful, Yvonne! Thank God the story does not end there. God bless you!
Thanks Jessica. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
I love trees, too! Matter fact, my husband and I have been accused of being “tree huggers“. (LOL) I think trees are especially significant in the Bible, and I’m glad that you made good mention of their symbolic meaning to our Christian faith.
They are such a gift to us too. Thanks Lisa and Merry Christmas.
I also love the references from scripture and how God uses those things in our midst to remind us of His presence and His promises!
Amen. Thanks Beth and Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Thinking how wonderful it will be to sit by a tree and visit with Him. Merry Christmas!
Sounds heavenly Melissa. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
This was beautiful from beginning to end. I loved you “click to tweets!” And yes, I tweeted them!
I hate it when I click post without proofreading…Repeat: I loved YOUR “clicks to tweets.”
😊
Thanks Linda. Merry Christmas
I had noticed the discussion of trees in the Bible before, but I hadn’t connected them until now. Fabulous post!
Thanks Nancy. Wishing you a blessed Christmas.
I never knew all the significance of trees in the Bible!
They tell us so many stories in the Bible and in life. Thanks Jessie and Merry Christmas.
I was thinking about that line- only God could make a tree. My grandmother, who passed away a year ago yesterday, used to say that all the time. Her farm was my safe place growing up, with scores of fruit and climbing trees. Your blog brought back wonderful memories- and I’m delighted to read the rest of that poem. Your blog brought back some beautiful memories; thanks!
I am glad it gave you a smile. Thanks Candice and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you for including the poem, Yvonne. I had never read that one. It’s beautiful, as is your post!
Thanks Jennifer. God bless and Merry Christmas.
So beautiful! Yes, I cannot wait for that day as well!
It will be a glorious day. Thanks Emily and Merry Christmas
So beautiful! So inspiring! I loved this, Yvonne! We are also a family of tree lovers. My dad can identify trees by their bark or leaves and can rattle off any special qualities or uses for the given tree. I love their beauty in every season. But most of all, I love how you tied all these deep spiritual truths to the tree. From the Christmas tree to the tree where Jesus hung. The tree in the garden to the tree in Revelation. Wonderful piece!
Thanks so much Melissa. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
Thank you for drawing our attention to trees! I’m from a family of tree huggers as well, and that is a favorite poem. We grew up on the prairie, and so trees were precious. However, I hadn’t ever thought about the focus on trees that exists all through the Scriptures, from tree number one in the garden to the final tree of life on the new earth. And, I also hadn’t considered all the trees tied together throughout the rest of the story, Abraham’s oaks of Mamre, Jesus cursing the fig tree that didn’t bear fruit, to name just a couple. It never occurred to me. I love it when another believer tells me something that I hadn’t noticed before from God’s Word! Bless you, sister!
Thanks Melinda so much. Merry Christmas to you and yours.
A-Men Sister such a Beautiful Message and I Love how you talked about trees because you truly captured God’s Beautiful creative skills!!! He is the tree of Life A-Men!!! God bless you Sister as you continue to inspire..
He is our tree of life. Thanks dearest Stephen. Wishing you a blessed Christmas
So beautiful, Yvonne. One this thought and tweet, “Soon, all the beauty that envelopes the Christmas tree will fall away. We will move on from the festive lights of a Christmas tree to the dark blood-stained wood of the tree on Calvary. Christmas’s happiness soon gives way to the somber season of Lent.” It reminded me of the song that says something like “He grew the tree that became the old Rugged Cross.”
Thanks Karen. That is a beautiful song too. Merry Christmas.
Can’t wait to meet you under that tree!
Merry Christmas 🎄
Merry Christmas to you and yours
Ah, what a neat thought. I’d love that, too!
Amen. Merry Christmas