I know I just posted BUT BUT BUT I listened to a podcast on trees and
1. It’s too good not to share and
2. It jogged my heart memory to when I wrote a little blurb on trees a couple of years ago.
So, let me first share the podcast interview with Dr. Matthew Sleeth here: http://www.anniefdowns.com/2019/10/22/episode-179-dr-matthew-sleeth/
And here’s what I wrote back in April 2017 -when we were still praying for a diagnosis and the right treatment for Joseph who was 8 years old, with crossed eyes, a swollen brain, and no clear path…
I ran across something on Pinterest about the story of Zacchaeus.
I have always loved this story. But the perspective the “pin” offers is just awesome.
Zacchaeus was a tax collector who took his collecting to a personal level – not cool. Taking money from people made him the town villain. And the story points out he was very short. So, Jesus was coming to town and Zacchaeus had to see for himself.
So he ran towards the crowd of haters. Then he climbed up a tree. And Jesus walked right to that sycamore and called him by name. Makes me smile. Every time.
So, here is the pin:
LONG BEFORE ZACCHAEUS COULDN’T SEE JESUS, THE TREE WAS ALREADY PLANTED TO MEET HIS NEED.
Already planted… No coincidences. Just God.
God doesn’t force himself on you but He really just wants to meet you, all day every day, wherever you are. He wanted to meet Zacchaeus. And God thought “this guy’s gonna need a tree to see Jesus” so He planted a sycamore. Zacchaeus saw the tree, climbed it and the son of God walked up to him. I don’t know about you, but my smile just got bigger.
I feel like I can run towards a lot of things; as a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend, human being. As I have been in full sprint, I’ve seen the sycamore. Sometimes I pass it. But ANY TIME I CLIMB, God is there.
We all need those trees. We all need a little help to climb sometimes.
So let me tell you this story…
A guy named Johnny Kelly wrote Joseph an email. Johnny is a student at Ohio State University & on the OSU lacrosse team. Johnny had an eye injury and suffered through Lymes. As a result, he wasn’t able to play lacrosse. The parallels of pain are striking and beautiful.
He wrote Joseph to share his story and some encouragement “it’s easy to feel angry or sad… but just know the Big Man upstairs has a plan for your life and trust that he will use it to make you a better, more caring person.” Johnny is playing again. In fact, OSU beat Maryland in overtime this weekend.
God is real. God is so good. Through that email, Johnny put Joseph on his shoulders to see Jesus, feel hope.
It is just ONE beautiful example of how intricately and intimately God sees us & loves us.
Be hope-filled.
Climb your trees.
Jesus is waiting to meet you.
how the light gets in 