Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Darren Milam
Wednesday, April 3, 2024

In our front yard, we have 3 flowering cherry blossom trees. When we first planted them (over 20 years ago), for some reason I thought they wouldn’t get more than 10 feet high. I was wrong. All three are in the 30 foot range and full of blooms as you can see from the image above.

As we know all too well, this planet we live on is filled with sin. It also has incredible beauty. We know God has a plan for each one of us. The timing of that plan may not be known (to us) but our time on this planet can still be pleasant given the gifts God has chosen to create. Take trees for example — whether they produce eye popping flowers, bear fruit to eat, or give us shade on a hot summer day. The process by which they provide oxygen to us allows us to breathe clean air, and their branches give resting spots for the birds of the sky. As we know, God created these living tall plants for us. He started that process in the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 2:9 (NIV) “The Lord God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground—trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

Even the center of God’s plan for our free will was based on trees and the choices Adam and Eve provided. It is clear trees are special to our Creator. I, for one, won’t look at another tree the same way again. Thank you, God, for the creations you have given us, especially all the trees!