One of the most unique and interesting things about living in Northern Colorado is the weather.
For weeks, we have had warm, sunny Springtime weather and it has seemed like most of the town has been planting flowers and vegetables; large crowds have been visiting the local nurseries and greenhouses to purchase their Spring plants and flowers. Everyone seems eager to plant, but encouraged to wait until after Mother's Day, as advised by Colorado plant and weather experts.
On one of my many trips to the nursery, I overheard a woman telling another woman to "be careful about planting anything until closer to the end of May, beause we will most likely get another heavy snowfall." Really? I thought. Surely, not with temperatures in the high 70's even the 80's over the past few weeks; spoken like a true immigrant from Califonia to Colorado and she was obviously a seasoned local and she knew what she was talking about.
Last week, we had two days of heavy snows between 5 to 6 inches. We had to cover all the flowers, herbs and veggies that we planted, and we lost several limbs off our maple tree in our front yard. The City of Ft. Collins reported a loss of thousand of dollars due to tree damage.
We watched our younger trees bend over to the almost breaking point under the weight of the heavy snowfall; thankfully they did not, but there is visible wear and tear on all the trees, plants and flowers. This weather phenomen sparked curiosity in me to do a bit of research and I found that trees, like people, have the "potential to fail at some level from the force from stormy weather." But, most trees can "keep their feet firmly planted in the ground" even during storms, as long as they are healthy.
This is some of the information I found on a weblink written by Kevin T.Smith of the US Department of Agriculture and Forest Service that caused me to compare significant comparisons between trees and people in the midst of the storms of life.
"Shallow soil, rocky soil, splitting, tearing, too heavy foliage crowns, too much water, weight and harsh conditions" can uproot and practically destroy a tree. "Trees are most at risk when their environment has been changed." A poor root system also makes trees vulnerable, as well as noticeable cracks. However, the simple presence of decay doesn't mean the tree will fall, but we must look for the areas of weakness and vulnerability before a storm hits."
"A decayed tree can topple with little rain and/or wind. . . any tree can break or fall given the extenuating underground circumstances. The better the relationship between soil and trees the better the root development."
How do you "weather" the storms that come your way? For me, I am always reflecting on how I am rooted, or more important in whom I am rooted - Jesus, for He is "the vine and I am the branches." As long as I am rooted in Him, the soil of my heart nourished by His Word and refreshed by the cleansing waters of the Holy Spirit, I can withstand and even grow stronger through storms. It is only if and when I ignore signs of weakness or decay, that I may be bended low, broken and even fall.
Like a tree, I want to be healthy and "give character to the landscapes, provide shade for others when the heat is turned up and display beautiful colors." I welcome the storms that reveal "root problems" that make me weak and vulnerable.
"For He gives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we migt be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified." -Isaiah 61:3
Reaching,
Angie "a mom like you"
www.amotherlikeme.info
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
For weeks, we have had warm, sunny Springtime weather and it has seemed like most of the town has been planting flowers and vegetables; large crowds have been visiting the local nurseries and greenhouses to purchase their Spring plants and flowers. Everyone seems eager to plant, but encouraged to wait until after Mother's Day, as advised by Colorado plant and weather experts.
On one of my many trips to the nursery, I overheard a woman telling another woman to "be careful about planting anything until closer to the end of May, beause we will most likely get another heavy snowfall." Really? I thought. Surely, not with temperatures in the high 70's even the 80's over the past few weeks; spoken like a true immigrant from Califonia to Colorado and she was obviously a seasoned local and she knew what she was talking about.
Last week, we had two days of heavy snows between 5 to 6 inches. We had to cover all the flowers, herbs and veggies that we planted, and we lost several limbs off our maple tree in our front yard. The City of Ft. Collins reported a loss of thousand of dollars due to tree damage.
We watched our younger trees bend over to the almost breaking point under the weight of the heavy snowfall; thankfully they did not, but there is visible wear and tear on all the trees, plants and flowers. This weather phenomen sparked curiosity in me to do a bit of research and I found that trees, like people, have the "potential to fail at some level from the force from stormy weather." But, most trees can "keep their feet firmly planted in the ground" even during storms, as long as they are healthy.
This is some of the information I found on a weblink written by Kevin T.Smith of the US Department of Agriculture and Forest Service that caused me to compare significant comparisons between trees and people in the midst of the storms of life.
"Shallow soil, rocky soil, splitting, tearing, too heavy foliage crowns, too much water, weight and harsh conditions" can uproot and practically destroy a tree. "Trees are most at risk when their environment has been changed." A poor root system also makes trees vulnerable, as well as noticeable cracks. However, the simple presence of decay doesn't mean the tree will fall, but we must look for the areas of weakness and vulnerability before a storm hits."
"A decayed tree can topple with little rain and/or wind. . . any tree can break or fall given the extenuating underground circumstances. The better the relationship between soil and trees the better the root development."
How do you "weather" the storms that come your way? For me, I am always reflecting on how I am rooted, or more important in whom I am rooted - Jesus, for He is "the vine and I am the branches." As long as I am rooted in Him, the soil of my heart nourished by His Word and refreshed by the cleansing waters of the Holy Spirit, I can withstand and even grow stronger through storms. It is only if and when I ignore signs of weakness or decay, that I may be bended low, broken and even fall.
Like a tree, I want to be healthy and "give character to the landscapes, provide shade for others when the heat is turned up and display beautiful colors." I welcome the storms that reveal "root problems" that make me weak and vulnerable.
"For He gives beauty for ashes, joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness, that we migt be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that He might be glorified." -Isaiah 61:3
Reaching,
Angie "a mom like you"
www.amotherlikeme.info
amotherlikeme@gmail.com
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