As a small child I grew up along the Texas coast where it was not uncommon for tropical storms and occasional hurricanes to come in from the Gulf of Mexico. I remember the huge trees in our yard and my grandmother’s, shuttering violently along with the low litany of prayers inside our house that one would not come down, especially across the roof. These massive trees were our shade in the blistering heat, where my swing hung from and sheltered the hundreds of azalea bushes my Grandmother lovingly tended. After the storm we would survey the damage to see if anything needed pruning or if the giant trees had shifted. But, year after year those trees held up-all while watching human history unfold before them as they continued to grow.
This quote from the iconic Dolly Parton seemed a fitting tie to this story. As in life, the storm sometimes comes in to cause destruction, though in the end can make us hold tighter and faster to our foundation below sending our roots deeper. Even as the winds pick up remember you are held down by source that feeds you, by digging in with your soul the winds become easier to ride and your adaptability more evident.
