A time to Plant and a Time to Uproot

A number of things are happening right now that remind me of the fact that there is a time – a limited time- for everything. Sometimes we act or live like nothing will ever change, but in the end everything does change. It causes one to ask, “How then shall we live to make the most of every opportunity and every stage in life?”

Last summer we had to uproot a tree. It was a beautiful old white birch, but it got a disease and died quite suddenly. I thought I had to have this tree by my kitchen window, especially because it provided such welcoming shade in the summer.

So my H went and bought another large white birch and had it crane lifted over the house to take the spot. Sadly, this spring, while everything else was coming back to life, this tree did not.

We decided to buy another tree once again. This time it’s a Queen Elizabeth Maple and it’s not quite as tall yet. At the nursery the tractor put it right onto the bed of Ben’s truck and here at home, the men put the root ball onto a large wheel barrow and then five able men pushed and pulled it alongside of the house to the spot.
I couldn’t believe it worked! The buds have already grown in this past week and it looks like it's liking the new spot.

I don’t know why the birch didn’t survive. We watered it faithfully, but possibly it was not ready for the harsh winter we had. Maybe we should have waited or just maybe someone needed the money that we “wasted.”
These are questions we ask, especially when our decisions are about life, not trees. We thought we did the right thing and it ended up not working out. How do we handle these kind of disappointments in life?
Uprooting the old stump was backbreaking kind of work! It’s hard when life throws you the kind of curve ball, where everything changes after many years. It’s probably equally as hard when you haven’t been able to have enough time to let your roots grow deep. You feel like you haven’t been given a fair chance. And the worst thing may be the bad review we give ourselves or the remarks from the sidelines . . . the advice or wisdom from others. We didn’t plant in the right season, we didn’t water it enough or the winds were too strong.
I was encouraged by a verse in James yesterday that says that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. That just hit me in a new way. I might want to give someone advice, but I might also be trying to find fault, “Like, how did you get into this situation, in the first place?” God, who has every right to do this, doesn’t. When we are genuine and humble about coming to Him for wisdom He gives generously, without casting blame. Somehow this both chastens and gives me comfort at this time.

Maybe we learned something about tree planting. We can’t be in a rush, and the timing has to be right, but a young tree needs tender care and even protection. If it doesn’t take root, it won’t be able to withstand the storms that are sure to come.