Upon arriving at my parents for Christmas this year, my husband and I were greeted with 16” of fresh snowfall. Skiing the next day was magical – not just the ski runs but the scenery around me. Everything was covered in white and seemed so perfect. Until I saw this baby Christmas tree.
My first thought was how beautiful it was. Then I looked closer and realized it wasn’t just flocked in snow but what looked like drowning in snow. I wondered if it’s tiny branches would be able to hold the weight of the snow. I wondered if there would be permanent damage or if someone the snow would help its survival. And then it hit me – aren’t there times in life when we all feel the heavy weight of something and may ask ourselves similar questions. Maybe others around us think we are “beautiful” because they don’t see our struggles in relationships, parenting, career, etc. but we can be feeling the weight of the world on our shoulders. I know this has been true for me many times.
So, I did some research and here’s what I learned. Snow is both friend and foe to trees. It can be very damaging in excess if it causes the tree to bend, break, split, fall or uproot. On the other hand, breakage of small or dead branches is a type of pruning and can ensure a stronger tree. Snow in many cases protects trees and their roots from extreme temperature which might otherwise kill them.
The big question then is, what do you think when something is weighing you down in life? Do you see your burden as friend, foe or both? Have you considered that maybe you are in a season of pruning and will be stronger as a result? Research has shown, our thoughts play a huge role on our outcomes. The more positive we think, the more positive the results. Rather than letting something damage us, maybe we should see it as shaping us for something greater.
If stress, overwhelm, change or something else has you weighed down, and you’d like some positive support moving forward, let’s chat – 850-291-7124.