Self Portrait
“I took this picture today. Looking at it later it dawned on me, this is a picture of widowhood. See that tree, unnoticeable at first, in the middle?? Looks dead right?? The caterpillars have stripped the leaves from it. It has 2 options, to overcome the destruction and fight to live, or die. That tree has an internal battle going on while everyone else around it is untouched. My friends, that is widowhood.”
(by Michelle Leigh – used with permission)
I love this analogy. It reminds us that, while we didn’t have a choice about our current damaged condition, we do get to choose whether or not we overcome. The battle is long and fierce and lonely, and no other “tree” can fix us, but if our roots are deep, there is strength to be had from outside of ourselves—not from those around us, but from a depth that cannot be destroyed by the worms of death and loss.
Friend, if we are rooted and grounded in Jesus Christ, His grace will sustain us and His power will restore us. One day, we will bloom and grow again and be able to provide shade and rest to those who need it.
For the child of God, that is such good news.
Your life may appear to be over and the caterpillars may appear to have won, but deep beneath the surface, your root system has the resurrection power of Jesus Christ pumping His life into you.
Hold on, valley-walkers; He’s not done with us yet!
🩷Audra