Today, I was really wanting to be in Colorado, specifically up in the mountains enjoying the fresh air, the forest of trees, the peaceful silence and the loving fellowship of everyone at the ranch. As I was walking through the city here in Chicago, it was so incredibly difficult to find anything around me that resembled the sheer beauty that fills the mountains. I was desperately craving the pond and the grandness of the mountains as they jut up all around, pressing in open me like a comforting embrace. Dragging my feet along those cracked concrete slabs that joined together to create the closest thing to a hiking trail I could find, I begrudgingly wandered into the park. Where I was immediately greeted by a charming character, he was a spry fellow, small in stature, but filled with ambitions and dreams. His warm greeting sparked a tenderness within me that slowly made its way to my face, forming into an awkward smile. Stooping down to return the friendly gesture of this handsome young squirrel, I was immediately whisked into the world of God’s loving and compassionate creation. This curious creature had inspired a sense of love and gentleness within me that welled up and began to reveal the marvel of the nature that surrounded me. Now understand, this is no substantial park, it is sparsely sprinkled with a few trees and some plants that frame in the trodden down sod. Yet, in this moment, a park that I had oft strolled was shone to me in a manor I never before had appreciated. The greenness of the leaves, the friendliness of the birds and squirrels all spoke to me as a personal gesture of God’s love for me. Strolling further into the park, across the grass, and beneath a small clump of trees that joined together forming a sort of leafy overhang under which I could feel embraced by God’s creation. It was beneath these simple trees that I found God’s blessings, examining each leaf carefully and observing in romantic detail the complexities and aesthetics of each life giving leaf, that hung so delicately upon the slender frame of these simple trees. Surely, God knew that I would be blessed by these trees, that I would be whisked into the nature that I had been so desperately craving, surely when He created this tree He had me in mind. This specific tree, to whose leaf I gently clung, this tree was created by God. He watched caringly as it sprouted from beneath the soil, He watched over it as the harsh sun beat down upon its branches and made sure it was supplied the life giving water it needed to endure. This tree, much like me has been watched over since the time of it’s birth. This tree, just like me serves a purpose and God seeks to care for it and provide for it. God truly blessed me, revealing the truth of His word, “God’s blessings are new everyday.” From this day forth I want to reflect upon the blessings that surround me throughout the mornings, the long afternoons and the peaceful nights. It is within the normal routine that God places these reminders of His love, His watchful provision, His compassionate blessings. If only I had a watchful eye and an open heart, I would allow myself to embrace the subtle gifts that show how much God loves me. I cannot, simply cannot forget how much God loves me. For it is upon a tree, a common tree that our savior hung, absorbing the blood from His veins into the grain of its wood. It was upon such a tree that our Christ, sacrificed His life to open our eyes to these blessings. A tree has been forever changed for the eyes of all that have heard of this heart wrenching truth. We must never forget to thank God for the trees, the blessed life giving trees. They stand all around us, everyday, proclaiming the message of God’s love. I pray that they never look the same to you again. May they never serve as mere decorations, but as silent reminders of our Christ’s love and sacrifice for us.