MY FAVORITE TREE

My Favorite Tree

The reason this tree is my favorite isn’t because of the type of tree, even though I’m a huge fan of maples, it’s because of the shape of the tree. It’s not a perfect lollipop shape; in fact, it’s a little lop-sided and leaning a bit to one side. It’s a lot like most family trees.

My three brothers and I come from the same gene pool (or tree trunk) and the same parental influence. Even though we come from the same place, we all have free will, and boy did we take advantage of it. We were all towheaded, mischief-making, little kids. We each found our individual way to get into trouble, yet being connected as brothers, we also found plenty of trouble together. As time went on each of us found our own path. While one was into sports, another was into music; while another enjoyed the outdoors, another not so much. We started growing our own branches and adding limbs to them, and even smaller ones to those limbs. Sadly, some branches have split and started growing different directions, yet still remain connected in some way or another. Looking at the tree overall, you can see some branches growing close to one another with a lot of limbs connected. On different sides of the tree, the branches aren’t so busy and have more space. That’s what I like about this tree - it reminds me of my family.

Pretending to be doo-wop singers

As for my brothers and I, we will always be connected, even while doing our own thing, and once in a while when we’re together, the little towheaded, mischief-maker comes out in all of us.

Psalm 127:3-5 Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth. Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.