The Tree in Winter

“Ever since God made the world, his great power has been plain to see in the things he has made.” — from Romans 1

When Lawrence was eighteen years old, it was winter. Everything was cold and grey.

One day he stopped and looked at a tree. It had lost every one of its leaves. Its branches were bare and brown, like bony fingers against the sky. It looked dead.

But Lawrence knew something about trees. He knew that in a little while, when spring came, new green leaves would come back on those bare branches. After that there would be flowers. And after the flowers, there would be fruit.

As he stood there thinking, a great thought filled his mind. Who makes the leaves come back? Who brings the flowers and the fruit, year after year? God does! Lawrence suddenly saw how strong God is, and how carefully he looks after everything he has made.

That one bare tree changed his whole life. He said the thought never left him. It made him love God so much that, more than forty years later, he still couldn’t tell whether his love had grown, because it had been so big right from the start.

God made everything around you: trees, birds, rain and stars. Next time you look at a tree, remember Lawrence. The same God who brings back the leaves is looking after you.

Dear God, thank you for the trees and all the things you have made. Help me to see how great and kind you are. Amen.