As I was driving in our mountainous home of Southwestern Virginia this Spring, I was drawn to the beautiful greenness of the trees on the mountain side. I was reminded of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:28-30 about not worrying about what you wear, that God provides for the flowers and grass. I thought He provides for these trees too. They don’t have to toil to grow and produce those beautiful leaves. They have a purpose, just like we do, and they fulfill it every year. And, spending time in the woods, I see what happens and it makes me realize that, at some point, the tree’s time is up, it slowly dies and ends up on the floor of the forest to decay and provide nutrients to the soil beneath. So, as I’m enjoying the beauty of the trees, God gives me a picture of what might be happening on that mountain side, a prayer a tree might pray.

“Thank you, God, for providing for and sustaining me for another year. I know that one day it will be my time to lay down and go back to the ground from where I came. And I know that your plan for me then will be to provide for those who come after me. Thank You, Amen.”

Then, as God frequently does with me, He showed me something that made me smile. After the tree prayed this prayer, it looked down and saw a tiny acorn laying on the forest floor looking back up at the tree with a thankful smile on its face. And the process begins all over again.

You know, this process could be compared to the life of a Christian. The Bible says we came from dust, (Genesis 2:7), and some day we will return there. Our mission, as with the tree’s, should be to make a difference and provide for those around us while we’re alive so that, at the end of our time, we will continue to, “provide for those who come after us”. Like that little acorn, do you have someone looking up and smiling at you?