The Giving Tree

I always know when it is time for me to post a blog again because there are thoughts in my mind that just won’t go away! There is not too much to tell in the arena of movement in our adoption.  Our papers are still in the same ‘place’ as they were the last time I wrote.  Frustrating.  Irritating.  Upsetting. Devastating. Unfortunately, extremely common in this process.  Our hands are tied…there is absolutely NOTHING we can do except pray.  Yet again, God has shown us what only He can do…and this time it has been to show us the generosity of those around us.

Several months ago, a friend here in Florida saw our need for financial support, and she hit the ground running. She quickly organized a fundraising event and people showed up that didn’t know us.  A friend from my old hometown of Salisbury, Maryland heard about it and decided to do the same….and it happened again! People I knew and people we have never met came and supported us!  Some couldn’t come but sent beautiful words of encouragement and financial donations.  You people….ALL OF YOU….thank you.  Thank you for your kindness and your generosity.  Thank you for your words that have given us the strength to keep moving forward.  We have loved hearing the way our story has affected others.   Family Week has come upon us once again.  We were truly hoping that the one in November would be the last one and that we would be bringing Natasha home by now, but that is not so.  We were going to have to forego this trip this time because of expenses. Again…God said “Trust Me”.  No one knew this except a few ….last Sunday, a check ‘appeared’ on our front doorstep.  Literally.  Written out to me…a cashiers check so that  we couldn’t know who had given it. I have asked the five people I know in Florida, and unless they lie well, it is not them.  So..can you see a pattern here?  We are blessed beyond measure.

In trying to put my thoughts together to write this blog, all I could think about was the poem from Shel Silverstein, The Giving Tree.  I couldn’t remember the poem but could picture the front cover of the book that is probably still sitting on the shelf in my childhood bedroom. So I decided to research and here it is for those of you that have never heard or have forgotten…

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Once there was a tree….. and she loved a little boy.  And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest.  He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples. And they would play hide-and-go-seek.  And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. And the boy loved the tree…….very much.  And the tree was happy.

But time went by.  And the boy grew older.  And the tree was often alone.  Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, “Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy.”

“I am too big to climb and play,” said the boy.  “I want to buy things and have fun.  I want some money.  Can you give me some money?”
“I’m sorry,” said the tree, “but I have no money, I have only leaves and apples.  Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city. Then you will have money and you will be happy.” And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away.  And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time… and the tree was sad.  And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, “Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy.”

“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm.  I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house.  Can you give me a house?”

“I have no house,” said the tree. “The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build a house.  Then you will be happy.” And the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his house.  And the tree was happy.

But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. “Come, Boy,” she whispered, “Come and play.”

“I am too old and sad to play,” said the boy. “I want a boat that can take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?”

“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree. “Then you can sail away…… and be happy.” And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away.  And the tree was happy…. but not really.  And after a long time the boy came back again.

“I am sorry, Boy,” said the tree, “but I have nothing left to give you.  My apples are gone.”

“My teeth are too weak for apples,” said the boy.

“My branches are gone,” said the tree. “You cannot swing on them.”

“I am too old to swing on branches,” said the boy.

“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb.”

“I am too tired to climb,” said the boy.

   “I am sorry,” sighed the tree. “I wish that I could give you something—— but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump.”

   “I don’t need very much now,” said the boy. “just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired.”

 

   “Well,” said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.” And the boy did.  And the tree was happy.

 

Oh how this relates to my relationship with God!!! I wasn’t expecting that! This time it is different.  Again I have gone before Him, the ‘tree’…asking.  This time I will choose to stay.  I will sit and wait with expectancy because He loves me…and you! Won’t you come and sit and stay this time too?