“They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.” Jeremiah 17:8

Terry and I drove by our old house and were devastated when we saw the maple tree we love had been massacred. Yes, this is a slight exaggeration; we were devastated because our maple tree had been trimmed to fit the stereotypical tree shape most HOAs dictate. Gone were all the branches that countless children had dared to climb. Gone were the low-hanging branches that we ducked under while we mowed the lawn. Gone was the canopy that provided backyard shade on hot days. Yes, the tree was still there, and I am sure it will fill out beautifully next year. But right now, it is half the tree it used to be, and I mourn the memory of the maple tree that was.

My husband loves trees and shares this passion with me. His absolute delight is contagious, and I, too, have fallen in love with these majestic monuments of nature. They provide many benefits for us: cleaner air, cooler temperatures, better stormwater management, improved health by reducing stress, and the creation of habitats for wildlife. I have done a deep dive on trees with books like The Hidden Lives of Trees, Reforesting Faith, and the most recent, Tree Collectors. These authors have helped me see how trees are communal, distinct, and important to God.

But more than reading about trees, I love taking walks among trees. Whether it is a park where a weeping willow is swaying in the wind, or down a city street where Ginkgos have been planted. I love to explore the woods where I walk on needles and smell the scent of pine trees. Like a child, I stop to pick up leaves, run my fingers across the bark, and gaze up to look at the crowns of oaks, birches, and elms.

Trees are another treasure from a good God.

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