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Fruit of sturdy tree ready for new roots
(by Christine Thome - August 25, 2010)
BEYOND MY CONTROL, BY CHRISTINE THOME
Fruit of sturdy tree ready for new roots
One beautiful August morning, the fruit of a large, long-standing tree considered aloud that perhaps it was her time to disembark from the tree and go out on her own.
"I've been here a very long time, and, though I'd like to stay forever, something inside me tells me that it's time to go," she said.
"I agree," said the tree.
"But where will I go?" the fruit asked.
"Wherever you want to go," the tree said simply.
"But I've never been anywhere but here," she said. "I have your branches to hold me up when the weather is bad, and I have the shade of your leaves to keep me cool in the hot summers. Maybe I should just stay here."
"As much as I would love you to stay, it is not the best thing for you," said the tree.
"But what about the saying 'the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree'?" the fruit questioned.
"Do you know what happens to fruit that doesn't fall very far from its tree? It no longer sits high in the branches, able to look about the land and wonder what else is out there. Instead, the fruit lies on the ground, sheltered from the sun and water it desperately needs to grow. Instead of living up to its full potential and finding its own place to grow, it hides in the shadow of the tree and slowly dies."
"But won't you miss me?" the fruit cried.
"You have no idea how much I will miss you," the tree sighed. "I will miss the comfort of having you hang from the arms of my branches. I will miss being able to see you anytime I want. I will miss watching you grow and change and turn into the beautiful entity you have become. And when you are gone, my branches will be lighter, but that will not be a comforting feeling, it will be one of sadness and loss that I hope eases with time.
"But my job is to give you all the resources necessary to allow you to find your own way. I have given you nourishment, light, protection, encouragement and, most importantly, unconditional love. And that unconditional love will never end, no matter how far away you are from me."
"Maybe you're right," the fruit whispered.
"I am," said the tree.
And with that, the fruit dropped from the tree and began to roll away from the familiar and comforting shade of the tree. It paused slightly and thought about turning around, but the wind, magnified by the tree's leaves, pushed the fruit further until it began to roll down the hill and out of sight.
Into the fall months, the tree continued to shed its leaves like tears while looking into the distance, wondering where the fruit might finally land and if it would be protected like the tree protected her for so long.
Finally, several springs later, while the buds of the trees were still knew and allowed a glimpse into the land beyond, the tree noticed a new growth far in the distance. This sapling was obviously young and still very green, but within its strengthening tree trunk and its still growing branches, it displayed the confidence and pride that can only come from a strong foundation of love and encouragement.
The tree knew instinctively that this sapling was her offspring. On a large gust of wind, the tree sent a message across the land, "I am so proud of you."
And the new tree whispered back. "Thank you. For everything."
Keep rolling, class of 2010!
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