Some days living the Christian life comes with a lot of persecution. The blows from others are so consistent we start to wonder if the comments they are saying are true. Our worth is not feeling so worthy. While we know we are doing the right thing; there is still this unexplainable feeling going on in us. It reminds me of this Olive tree we have.
We live on 10 acres, and our land has been in the family since 1948. So to some, it is land with a run-down old house. But for others, it is a land full of stories and memories. This Olive tree is just one more story to the list of accounts.
Where this Olive tree is located, there used to be a line of trees. There were so many that they were crowded together. However, the days of tree clustering slowly ended once we moved out here in 1991. I think my stepdad made it his mission to clear trees out. The area in which this Olive tree is located in one of his missions of clearing out.
He cut all the trees down. It took some time, and I watched as the progress was made. His mission finally came to an end. I looked out, and there was this tall tree with maybe a couple of branches, all sticking straight up. Only one branch had leaves, and there were not very many.
I asked, “Why didn’t you cut that tree down? It looks dead?” He said, “That is an Olive tree, and those are good trees. All the other trees smothered it, so it could not grow. Now that the trees that were taking what it needed away from it are gone, it will grow.”
Every summer, when it came time to mow, I stared at this tree while I mowed. I have wondered why is an Olive tree all that. I asked if it would grow like it was supposed to.
I have sat wondering about this Olive tree, trying to see what my stepdad saw in this tree.
Now in looking at it, I no longer wonder. I can see what my stepdad saw. Today it is a beautiful full tree. It produces olives and shares them with the ground underneath. I can not tell you how many little trees I have had to mow over. If I don’t get to them soon enough, they are abundant.
After a day of persecution, maybe you feel like this Olive tree looked. Beat down and not seeing a lot of good in you. But the One that allowed you where you are sees a lot of interest in you. He sees that where you are is clearing away all the things smothering you from growing into full bloom. As they are removed, the light can get in to develop such an abundance of fruit that it will be an overflow.
God loves you like crazy.
Windy Wen 