Tales from a Craggy Old Tree"..."Wisdom speaks when one has ears to hear ...

There she is the white queen of the forest ... In the winter of her life and the winter of her sisters lives, it is hard to discern the dead tree from the living. You would think there is no life in these "ladies in waiting" but come spring they will bring forth new life ... while the white craggy queen with her top gone from lightening, decay, and winds ... will still stand tall... but no leaves will come to signal life's cycle goes on.

But oh for sure... in this season she still has lessons to teach and her very presence reminds all... of days gone by. One day she will topple in a wind and be gone forevermore. But those who stood with her in winter garb will remember the whisper of her leaves and hear the tales she told..  when in the summer of her life, she was glorious.

Seasons come and seasons go .. we would do well to mark the days of our lives as the new year approaches. Be very sure of your calling, for one day .. you too will be taking the "winter journey" ... like the winter queen is now. Look beyond her smile to the heart full of lessons .. what deliciousness if you would/could but side step even one of her mistakes and gain one of her successes by reading the "Book of life." ...

love from a craggy old tree on Hummingbird Haven.

Hebrews 12:1-13 NIV 1984
  

God Disciplines (teaches) His Sons and Daughters

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:

“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

because the Lord disciplines those he loves,

and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”a

his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. “Make level paths for your feet,” so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

 Try reading this in many translations you won't be sad you did.