The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
This story originates from a true story of a Pin Oak Tree that my grandparents planted in our front yard (their front yard at the time) when they were first married.
The acorn fell from a huge tree. The acorn had sprouted a delicate small sprout. The tree grew to a seedling. The young couple, just starting out in life wanted to plant the tree in honor of their marriage.
The tree grew. The winds blew. The tree bent, but did not break. It made it more flexible to change.
Children were born to the young couple. The children played and climbed in it's branches. The children grew up and had children of their own. The grandchildren loved the old tree.
The tree had grown into a massive Oak that spread it's branches and shaded the family below. The family played crochet, softball, and frisbee. It was a happy time.
Then the winds blew, the storm came and their were loud crashes all around. Many trees came down. Many trees died or were twisted and never recovered their ordeals of life's storms. The old Oak Remained.
It stood straight and steadfast in the middle of the yard that now held the fourth generation child that played under it's branches.
Again the storms came, the tree was massive. It was a sentinel. It stood tall and majestic, proud and assured. But like many a man who has these traits, the tree was thunderstruck by such a bolt of searing lightening that it shattered it's bark and the living tissue beneath was ripped out and scattered for yards around. The tree was sure to die everyone said. It can't survive this catastrophe, surely not this huge of a strike.
Fall came. The tree didn't show any signs of yellowing. The bark started to go from yellow to brown in the healing process. The tree produced acorns, many thought it's last acorns of seed and truth.
The tree suffered a severe winter of drought. In the Spring the rains brought the tiny little seeds up from the ground and they grew from the acorns from the tree that had sheltered them from the storm. The circle of life continues. Nothing that dies, is ever lost.
It's memory lives on in the lives it touches and grows.
Lovely story, It brought to mind the movie, "A tree grows in Brooklyn" also a reading from courage to change Page 83....."When we long for life without Difficulties.....remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and Diamonds are made under pressure"
