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Palm Tree People

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The VOICE of Inspiration

By Don Lindsey

This weekend, I’ve been lucky enough to accompany my wife and daughter for a visit to my mother-in-laws in Fort Pierce. Not only is she a wonderful mother-in-law and one of the sweetest people you could meet, but she also lives in a condo by the beach, which just adds to her wonderfulness.

Waking up beach-side is always nice, but this morning, I was treated to a spectacular show of force from the high winds. The ocean seemed to be one giant white cap, and the palm trees were whipping back and forth as the winds peppered the area. After staring at the scene for a few minutes, I kept looking at the palm trees. I thought about their durability and was impressed with how resilient they are and thought back to Hurricane Irma. The winds this morning are strong, but they’re nothing compared to the force that these trees would have faced a few months back, and yet through all of that, they are still standing.

After spending some more time looking at the majestic scene playing outside, I realized that this mentality could apply to people as well. I can say that I have several “palm tree” like folks that are always there no matter the situation. These people may bend from time to time, but they do not break and have proven to be an essential part of my life. I hope that I’ve been that way as well for those that I run across and for my family. If I can be that way for those in tough situations, then I’d say that I’m doing well with my life.

The ultimate example of bending but not breaking would be our relationships with God. Time after time, our Lord shows that His love will endure any and all storms. I believe that God puts into our lives folks who help us feel secure and puts other people in our lives so that we can do the same for them. For me, it’s my family and close friends. For some, it may be co-workers or other people that they run into. Either way, I think that God nudges us and others towards each other so that we may be of service in a similar fashion that Jesus was. I think my biggest obstacle is that I am not open-minded enough sometimes to recognize those helpful moments. That is something that I plan to correct immediately.

When I first started coming down to visit my wife and kids, I would get excited about seeing palm trees. I’ve always been a fan because for me they represent being with my family rather than 1000 miles away in Ohio. Now, not only do I still love looking at them, I now have a greater respect for the trees and the way they show us how to be strong. It’s amazing how God speaks to us through nature. It may be a rainbow, a clear sky or as the case was this morning, a wind storm, but no matter what it is we can find direction and wisdom. All we have to do is look for it. God bless.

Don Lindsey is a follower of Christ, son, husband, father, and a survivor. Originally from Dayton Ohio, and resident of Apopka for six years, Don sees his life as a dedication to his wife, parents, children, and community.

Don Lindsey, Inspiration

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