Redwood trees are beautiful. I've never had the pleasure of seeing one in person, but in pictures they look like trees from fairytales. Redwoods can grow up to 375 ft tall! Isn't that amazing? They're so majestic. You would think such beautiful tall trees would have roots just as deep into the ground. The incredible thing is they don't. Redwoods roots only go down maybe 5-6 ft deep. What make redwoods thrive and grow so wonderfully is community. You see, redwoods share a root system. There may be a whole grove of them intertwined and connected each being the life source for the next. So when storms and strong winds come and shake them, they are immoveable. They are in community. Having been through a rough part of my journey the last two weeks. I rediscovered what community means. While I was tending to my son in the hospital, I was surrounded by community. There were my sweet friends who were taking care of my dogs and my house. My amazing praying warriors, lifting up Jake and I in prayer every day. Friends that would send texts or Facebook messages letting me know we were in their thoughts and prayers. I met sweet people in the hospital that checked in on us all the time. Jake's teammates and band of brothers that visited him. The truth is, there was a time I would have handled this all on my own. I was a lone ranger and always thought that was me being strong. I could tough it out with the best of them. Earn my stripes. I didn't need anyone. The reality was, I wasn't being strong, I was being stubborn. Sure, there were situations in my past where I couldn't trust people. I had been hurt. People left, just when I needed them. So standing alone was safe. I insulated myself so I wouldnt be disappointed. Maybe a larger part of me didn't think I was worthy. What I've realized is even the Lone Ranger needed Tonto. In order to trust again, you have to start somewhere. You have to find the smallest glimpses to give you hope in people again. When all this began with Jake, the people that came along side me and said they would do something, actually did it. Not only did they do it, they did it in the most loving way possible. The care they gave my dogs, my home, my yard was better than me on my best day! My friends that said they'd pray, did. They'd even call regularly and pray with me on the phone. The Facebook messages didn't stop and all rejoiced with me when we were going home. Jake's friends never forgot about him. It was finals week, they had nationals and yet they took time to come and surround his hospital bed. You see, before I thought I had to stand alone to survive. What I learned is I need my community to stand around me, like the mighty redwoods. We share a root system and thrive together, so when the storms and winds of life come we are immoveable.
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