"A Lesson In a Tree Top."
How I’ll get out of this mess I’ll never know. Andrea clutched the sagging tree limb between her aching hands and scratched
legs, trying not to look down. It wasn’t enough that she had followed the wandering kitten from her grandparents’ house on the
outskirts of town through the woods surrounding the half acre of land, to the densest portion of oak and cedar trees in the whole
area. It wasn’t even enough to have the playful animal climb to the third highest branch and howl pitifully until Andrea had
started up after it, shakily making her way from branch to branch. However, when she had reached the charcoal ball of fur and
tried to retrieve it from its perch, the ungrateful animal had hissed and scratched Andrea’s outstretched hand before it scrambled
to the trunk and down the tree, to where it now sat happily on the ground, licking its fur.
That had definitely been enough. As a favorite cartoon hero might say, if he was a girl, she’d had all she could stand and she
couldn’t stand no more! If Andrea were the type of person to enact revenge on small animals, which she wasn’t, she’d be sorely
tempted to aim for the tiny miscreant when she fell. Looking down, she saw the little furball stand, stretch, and then prance off
in the direction from which they came, tail jauntily waving in the air. She rolled her eyes and sighed, hugging the tree a bit
tighter.
Falling was not an option, however, for she was hanging fifteen feet up in the air and could not afford any broken bones or
the subsequent visit to the emergency room. An aggressive gust of wind had the tree swaying and, as the branch she clutched
creaked and moaned, Andrea desperately sent up a prayer.
“God, please help me. Please send someone to help.” A small chuckle rose in her despite herself. “I know we can always learn
something from the situations we find ourselves, but,” Andrea frowned and looked around her.
“I’m not sure what lesson you’ve got picked out for me this time.”
A gentle whisper moved through her troubled spirit. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and
of sound mind.”
“Well, I am afraid, Lord, but that helps. What else do you have for me?”
A verse from Isaiah 41 gently moved across her mind. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Andrea couldn’t help but think of how she had walked through her life in the past, at times unsure of the way to go, and how
God had always been right there with her keeping her safe from harm. How many times had God shaken His head at her
repeated attempts to wander from His side? On how many occasions had God reached out to keep her from harm only to have
her merrily run away from Him, not knowing the danger she would face?
Andrea closed her eyes against the understanding and shame that overwhelmed her spirit as her mind effortlessly provided
memories which answered those questions.
“Alright, Father, I understand now.” She took a shaky breath as realization hit. “You brought me to the top of a tree to show
me that I need to spend time with You before I go off on my own way. I need to seek Your will for my life.”
Andrea felt thoroughly humbled. “Thank you, Father, for loving me and being patient with me. I love you so much…”
“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” The words from Jeremiah 31:3 followed her prayer and placed a feeling of
contentment in her heart and a smile on her weary face.
“What a wonderful thing it is to be loved with an everlasting love.” Andrea spoke the words in awe as a ray of sunlight broke
through the overcast sky and highlighted her position in the top of the old oak tree.
“Now if this doesn’t beat all. Andrea McBride stuck in a tree.” She looked down to see the loving face of her grandfather
gazing up at her and knew that God had sent her help in her time of need.
"A Lesson In a Tree Top."
How I’ll get out of this mess I’ll never know. Andrea clutched the sagging tree limb between her aching hands and scratched
legs, trying not to look down. It wasn’t enough that she had followed the wandering kitten from her grandparents’ house on the
outskirts of town through the woods surrounding the half acre of land, to the densest portion of oak and cedar trees in the whole
area. It wasn’t even enough to have the playful animal climb to the third highest branch and howl pitifully until Andrea had
started up after it, shakily making her way from branch to branch. However, when she had reached the charcoal ball of fur and
tried to retrieve it from its perch, the ungrateful animal had hissed and scratched Andrea’s outstretched hand before it scrambled
to the trunk and down the tree, to where it now sat happily on the ground, licking its fur.
That had definitely been enough. As a favorite cartoon hero might say, if he was a girl, she’d had all she could stand and she
couldn’t stand no more! If Andrea were the type of person to enact revenge on small animals, which she wasn’t, she’d be sorely
tempted to aim for the tiny miscreant when she fell. Looking down, she saw the little furball stand, stretch, and then prance off
in the direction from which they came, tail jauntily waving in the air. She rolled her eyes and sighed, hugging the tree a bit
tighter.
Falling was not an option, however, for she was hanging fifteen feet up in the air and could not afford any broken bones or
the subsequent visit to the emergency room. An aggressive gust of wind had the tree swaying and, as the branch she clutched
creaked and moaned, Andrea desperately sent up a prayer.
“God, please help me. Please send someone to help.” A small chuckle rose in her despite herself. “I know we can always learn
something from the situations we find ourselves, but,” Andrea frowned and looked around her.
“I’m not sure what lesson you’ve got picked out for me this time.”
A gentle whisper moved through her troubled spirit. “For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and
of sound mind.”
“Well, I am afraid, Lord, but that helps. What else do you have for me?”
A verse from Isaiah 41 gently moved across her mind. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your
God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Andrea couldn’t help but think of how she had walked through her life in the past, at times unsure of the way to go, and how
God had always been right there with her keeping her safe from harm. How many times had God shaken His head at her
repeated attempts to wander from His side? On how many occasions had God reached out to keep her from harm only to have
her merrily run away from Him, not knowing the danger she would face?
Andrea closed her eyes against the understanding and shame that overwhelmed her spirit as her mind effortlessly provided
memories which answered those questions.
“Alright, Father, I understand now.” She took a shaky breath as realization hit. “You brought me to the top of a tree to show
me that I need to spend time with You before I go off on my own way. I need to seek Your will for my life.”
Andrea felt thoroughly humbled. “Thank you, Father, for loving me and being patient with me. I love you so much…”
“I have loved you with an everlasting love…” The words from Jeremiah 31:3 followed her prayer and placed a feeling of
contentment in her heart and a smile on her weary face.
“What a wonderful thing it is to be loved with an everlasting love.” Andrea spoke the words in awe as a ray of sunlight broke
through the overcast sky and highlighted her position in the top of the old oak tree.
“Now if this doesn’t beat all. Andrea McBride stuck in a tree.” She looked down to see the loving face of her grandfather
gazing up at her and knew that God had sent her help in her time of need.
09/28/14
Here is a poem I wrote the other day. I hope you enjoy it! -Stephanie Hutchins
This Life God Gave to Me
It’s so easy to sit in judgment, from the outside looking in,
Getting tiny glimpses into this life that I must live.
But you don’t know what really happens, the battles I must wage,
The choices I am forced to make; traveling this path I’ve been called to take.
It’s taken a toll on my body, heart and mind; taking me daily to the brink,
Where my strength is giving out and I’m too tired to think.
The only One that keeps me going is the One who understands,
The One who called me to this life and designed it with His hand.
You see, He knows it’s not laziness or callousness that lie within,
But a desire to always do more and a strong love for Him .
He knows my body is frail and won’t do what I ask.
He knows my heart’s true desire of different, better task;
And He also knows the limitations that daily encompass me,
Not just me but also with those who are in my family.
He doesn’t judge me unfairly, ignore me or make comments,
He knows I’m doing my best and understands that my life is different-
It will never be “normal,” with all the normal things,
It will never be like the Smith’s, with parties and baseball games.
Expectations must change, keeping limitations in mind,
And understanding must prevail where impatience now resides.
Some don’t want to understand and some won’t want to see,
How God gave to me a life that must be lived differently.
So, God, the One who never leaves me and who always understands,
Please, give me strength to live my life today as I hold tightly to Your hand.
Strengthen my body, mind, and spirit as I walk my path today,
And please bring understanding to those watching as I go on my way.
You know my spirit is, oh, so willing but my flesh is truly weak.
Father, I’m so very thankful You understand how I must live...
... this life You gave to me.
Here is a poem I wrote the other day. I hope you enjoy it! -Stephanie Hutchins
This Life God Gave to Me
It’s so easy to sit in judgment, from the outside looking in,
Getting tiny glimpses into this life that I must live.
But you don’t know what really happens, the battles I must wage,
The choices I am forced to make; traveling this path I’ve been called to take.
It’s taken a toll on my body, heart and mind; taking me daily to the brink,
Where my strength is giving out and I’m too tired to think.
The only One that keeps me going is the One who understands,
The One who called me to this life and designed it with His hand.
You see, He knows it’s not laziness or callousness that lie within,
But a desire to always do more and a strong love for Him .
He knows my body is frail and won’t do what I ask.
He knows my heart’s true desire of different, better task;
And He also knows the limitations that daily encompass me,
Not just me but also with those who are in my family.
He doesn’t judge me unfairly, ignore me or make comments,
He knows I’m doing my best and understands that my life is different-
It will never be “normal,” with all the normal things,
It will never be like the Smith’s, with parties and baseball games.
Expectations must change, keeping limitations in mind,
And understanding must prevail where impatience now resides.
Some don’t want to understand and some won’t want to see,
How God gave to me a life that must be lived differently.
So, God, the One who never leaves me and who always understands,
Please, give me strength to live my life today as I hold tightly to Your hand.
Strengthen my body, mind, and spirit as I walk my path today,
And please bring understanding to those watching as I go on my way.
You know my spirit is, oh, so willing but my flesh is truly weak.
Father, I’m so very thankful You understand how I must live...
... this life You gave to me.
