One Tree at a Time

Most of you have read this in one place or another, but I wanted to add it since it is MY story. I wrote this in November of 2007. It is wonderful to look back and see how the LORD brings us through and out of whatever trial we are facing. One day we can look back and say, "Thank you, Jesus!" Love you all.

I held my breath. I knew the moment was coming. We rounded the bend in the road, and I heard the little scream I had been anticipating. “Look Mama, look! It’s the mounts…it’s the mounts!” My two year old finally glimpsed the majestic view of the Smoky Mountains! He had seen this same sight many times before since my parents had recently retired to the popular area, but he never ceased to be amazed by them. To him, they were the most massive things that he had ever seen, and he was in awe of them.

His older brother was, and still is in his own opinion, much wiser than the excited toddler. He calmly stated the mountains were really nothing special. “You see Riley; mountains aren’t very exciting at all. When you get up close, all that is there is just a bunch of trees!” My husband and I laughed, because it was such a typical response for our oldest son.

However, as we continued curving along the highway the Lord kept bringing my son’s comment to my mind. I was, at that very moment, struggling with a large mountain in my life. Cancer. From the time my doctor gave his diagnosis that one little word continually bounced around in my mind like a pinball in a pinball machine. Cancer…boiinngg…cancer…boiinngg…cancer. In fact, I had just been through two surgeries to remove the cancer from my body. My husband was taking my boys and me to my parents so they could help take care of me until I had healed enough to begin my treatment. Mountains…yes, I knew all about mountains.

In fact, my mountain seemed so massive in my life that I felt I may never be able to climb it. The weakness, the mood swings, the exhaustion, the sickness… it seemed they were pushing me down my mountain instead of over it. The Lord began speaking to me in that still small voice that always makes me sit up and pay attention. The mountain isn’t really that powerful. When you get up close, all that is there is just a bunch of trees. At that time in my life I didn’t have the strength to conquer the mountain, but I sure could take down a tree. The next day I was able to take down another tree, and the next day another.

The children of Israel received manna for one day. The Lord didn’t provide enough food to take care of them for the entire journey, but He provided enough strength for each day. The Bible tell us in Matthew 6:8 that the Lord knows the things we have need of before we even ask. The chapter continues on with the Lord’s Prayer and instructs us to pray in this manner. “Lord, give us this day our daily bread”…Lord help me conquer this tree today to get me one step closer to going over my mountain. He didn’t promise to give us enough leftovers to have strength for next week, next month, or next year. But he did promise us our daily bread. After many months of daily taking trees down I realized… I had gone over my mountain!

I recently celebrated the five year anniversary of my cancer treatment. The Lord added so many blessings to my life during that time. My doctors were not sure if I would have more children, and He blessed my husband and me with a third beautiful boy. I am proud to say that I can see the beauty in the mountains that life may bring…even if the Lord and I have to take them a tree at a time.