Our farmhouse maple tree was part of the history that we adored about our fixer upper. Yes it was overgrown and almost covering the front of the house, so due to all the overgrowth, and the black snake that used it has a ladder to slither up to the porch roof.... we decided to get a tree expert out for advice.
After he inspected the tree, to our dismay the news was not good...our beautiful "old" maple was showing signs of its age. After much conversing back and forth and a closer inspection we decided it was best to take the tree down. Today is the dreaded day! My family is in for the Fourth of July, "Independence Day" so we all go over to bid farewell. We park a safe distance away....it takes them awhile to prep the tree since it's so close to the house. He cuts away many of the branches on the back side to make the weight of the tree lean away from the house....then he ties a rope high up in a large branch that is connected to a winch on his truck. We hear him start the chainsaw...all we can do is watch our "old" maple topple to the ground.
Once the tree is on the ground the woodcutter motions for us to come look. We all gather to take a look at what he is seeing...the tree was almost completely rotten on the inside. A strong wind would/could have taken the tree down. After seeing how much rot was inside the tree we knew the right choice had been made.
I've said many times that all things that we encounter in life has a spiritual meaning...even our "old" maple taught me a lesson today! After cutting our tree...my mind went to a verse in the bible talking about wheat and tares, you really can't tell one from the other...they have to grow up together. Once harvest time comes the difference is evident. The wheat will produce good grain....the tares have poison inside that will make you sick if eaten.
Our tree looked perfectly healthy to me, I assumed it just needed a little pruning. We couldn't see the inside all we could see... was what was on the exterior. I say all this.....to say God can view the exterior and he can view the interior. We can hide what's on the inside from people yet God knows even the intent of our heart, "the interior".
Just like tares that are burned after harvest, according to Matthew 13:30 ... rot on the inside is very dangerous....just like our tree!
My prayer: Dear God, Help me to keep my interior "heart" and exterior synonymous!
"Matthew 13:24 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:
25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn"
"Jeremiah 17:10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
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