Last week, for safety sake, I had two beautiful, old, huge oak trees pruned because one massive limb had already broken, missing the deck, patio and porch. There was another very large limb hovering over the entire house. If that had broken off it would have done immeasurable damage.
So, as hard as it was, I called a friend who does tree work. It took many hours to trim and as each limb disappeared I wondered how much of the tree and shade would remain.
However, the "other side of the coin" occurred to me. It was later in the day, the sun was shining through into the porch. The flowers potted on the patio below the windows outside had struggled a bit because of the shade. I suddenly realized that now more sun would shine in those areas making it easier for some flowers to survive.
Looking high to the two oak trees I could see the canopy of limbs and leaves that still remained. There was still a place for the birds, squirrels, flying squirrels, raccoons and yes, even bear could climb up! These are sights I relish enjoying as I watch my "outdoor channel."
So, going one step further, how do each of us react when something in our life is "pruned"? It could be a need to downsize, a family death, a financial adjustment, a loss of a friend, health issues...you name it, even Covid. What does the "other side of the coin", this transition offer us? What can the positive change offer us when it happens?
I never imagined this perspective until I sat quietly long enough to let it hit me that even though two beautiful oak trees needed to be pruned, it can have a personal perspective in our own lives if we let it. A peace came to me and it might you. This peace might not have come without the sadness of losing something so beautiful.
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| Courtesy of Pixabay |
