I'm not a literal “tree-hugger,” but I would hug my fellow “family tree trunkers,” if our COVID-19 situations allowed. I reference my poem Family Tree below. Through its metaphors and similes, I remind myself and many of the subscribers to this website of how blessed we actually are, if God has blessed us generously with longevity.
You and I are trunks of our family trees. It certainly isn't appropriate to moan and whine asking, “Why am I still here?” Think of what those are missing in generational relationships who finished their life race earlier.
In my case, my life has spanned 6 generations. I have friends who have even made it to 7, if they got an earlier start on marriage. I have been blessed to know some of my grandparents, knew my parents' generation well, my own generation best of all, and the generations of my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren has been icing on the cake.
The above picture was taken 5 years ago with infant Myla when I was 90. Five more great-grandchildren have been added making it 14 in the great-grand level so far. “Indeed, may you see your children's children” (Psalm 128:6).
My fellow “trunkers,” we have our assignment displayed on God's billboard in Psalm 78: “Listen, O my people, to my instruction; incline you ears to the words of my mouth...We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generations to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done...that the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, that they may arise and tell them to their children, that they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments.” What is it that we don’t understand about God’s expectations for us relating to the generations that follows us?
Age and distance and the restriction of “distancing” are not excuses but rather a challenge to creative and innovative ways of reaching our younger progeny who even speak a different “tech language.” Don't cut yourself short. Modern technology can be our friend—as aging canines (old dogs) we can still try to learn some new tricks. We can text and email, Facebook, Zoom, Skype, etc. “In old age they shall declare [in wondrous ways!]...that the Lord is upright; He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him” (Psalm 92:14,15).
Most effective still is the old-fashioned way of prayer. As past generations invested their prayers in us, and they are being answered even now, so “praying forward” for our young lambs by name and situation is efficacious long after we have been called to our heavenly reward. Let's have at it, longevity friends!
FAMILY TREE
I am part of what has been
and what is yet to be.
Sandwiched in between is me:
I am the trunk of the family tree.
I have roots and also branches.
Generations from antiquity
pass through me.
They have determined
what I have become.
They are my history
which has made me what I am.
New branches spring from me;
they are my posterity.
I’ve had some choice in assisting
and inclining them toward the best
of what they might become.
Yet they are still free to grow and change
within the range of their heredity
and opportunity and God’s special plan
arranged from Eternity.
I pray for myself—the trunk between
—that I might be a planting
strong against the inevitable storms
yet bending with the wind if need be
passing on the best from roots unseen
but giving branches room to stretch
and reach upward to new heights
because I faithfully fulfilled
in my Family Tree
with the help of God
my true trunk destiny.
****
(Psalms of My Harvest by Leona Choy, p.40-41)
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BUT IF HE DOESN'T?
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READY OR NOT—HERE I COME!
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SLEEP WITH OUR CLOTHES ON
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HOW DO YOU SMELL BY NOW?
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PROLIFERATION OF DROPOUTS
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MESSAGE FROM 8TH CENTURY B.C.
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BRIDGES TO SOMEWHERE
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GET UP OFF THE FLOOR
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"Under" the Circumstances?
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TOO MUCH STUFF
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Bug Out Bags and More
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GIVE ME THIS DAY FRESH BREAD
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“WHO WERE YOU?”
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WHAT DOES MY COVID JOURNEY LOOK LIKE?
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A TIME TO BE HELD
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RUMBLE STRIPS AHEAD!
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“WHATEVER IS LOVELY AND BRINGS PEACE...”
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TO PLAN OR NOT TO PLAN
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WHAT'S OUT THERE?
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“FULL OF SAP AND VERY GREEN”
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SPIRITUAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS
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JUST FOR FUN
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WHO'S COUNTING?
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PRAYER IS NOT FOR SISSIES
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MY KITCHEN TIMER SPEAKS
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SQUEAKING HINGES
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“US WOMEN ON OUR OWN”
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TENDING TO MY CATERPILLARS AND COCOONS
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ARE WE THERE YET?
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ONLY A CHAPTER
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WEARY OR JUST TIRED?
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RETHINKING THE PREPPER MINDSET
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THE INTRIGUE OF ISOLATION
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CONTEST OF THE CONDIMENTS
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5/13/2020 6:05:00 PM by: Leona Choy
WHO WANTS TO PLAY STATUE?
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5/11/2020 9:17:00 PM by: Leona Choy
GIANTS IN OUR FAMILY TREE
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WHAT ABOUT THOSE GRASSHOPPERS?
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METATHESIOPHOBIA!
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WRITE A TIME CAPSULE
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CASTING PRACTICE
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LAST STRAW?
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MY SURVIVOR ASSIGNMENT
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SURE, I'LL PRAY FOR YOU
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PARABLE OF THE DISORDERED EGG
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CHANTING THE PSALMS—A “JOYFUL NOISE”
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OUR GREEN ROOM/GREENHOUSE
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4/15/2020 5:49:00 PM by: Leona Choy
TV WATCH AND PRAY
4/14/2020 5:26:00 PM by: Leona Choy
JUST PASSING BY?
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A SAFE PLACE ON THE ROCK
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GETTING A GOOD SHAKING
4/7/2020 11:36:00 AM by: Leona Choy
THE UPSIDE OF DOWNTIME
4/6/2020 5:34:00 PM by: Leona Choy
ANNOUNCING! PANDEMIC READ-A-THON!
4/4/2020 8:14:00 PM by: Leona Choy
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3/29/2020 9:58:00 AM by: Leona Choy
A DESERT FABLE
3/28/2020 11:06:00 AM by: Leona Choy
A PERSONAL MESSAGE
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SURFING THE PANDEMIC WAVES
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HOW ARE YOUR “WITS” DOING?
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FALLEN ROCKS
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HUNKERING AT EAGLE SUMMIT
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TENT DWELLING
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A MATTER OF PERSPECTIVE
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HANDS ON THE PLOW
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A NEW HAPPY DANCE
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MY CLAP OFFERING
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ONE DOLLAR DAFFODIL
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NOT SILENCED
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"In the beginning..." before GOOGLE
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PULLED FROM THE BRINK
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APPLE OF HIS EYE
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SINGING HER WAY HOME
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EATIN' SHORTBREAD
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BUCKET LIST AGAIN?
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IN SEARCH OF A MAKEOVER
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THE MYSTERY OF TIME
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Post Surgery Report
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WHO IS SHAKING MY TREE?
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WHO IS THE BOSS OF ME?
10/15/2019 10:37:00 AM by: Leona Choy
LORD, MOVE MY MOUNTAIN!
10/13/2019 3:11:00 PM by: Leona Choy
ANOTHER WAITING ROOM
10/11/2019 9:36:00 AM by: Leona Choy
DON'T BE SHEEPISH
10/10/2019 12:33:00 PM by: Leona Choy
THE VALUE OF SELF-TALK
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LASER PRAYER
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THANKS FOR THE MEMORY
9/12/2019 1:39:00 PM by: Leona Choy
CARRY ME, FATHER
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MY PERSONAL SPIRITUAL WORKOUT
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CREATIVE ENCOUNTERS
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PITCHING IT RIGHT
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“WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?”
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HANDS ON THE PLOW
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ONLY TALK WITH YOUR MOUTH FULL!
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HO-HUM FAITH
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3/4/2019 3:37:00 PM by: Leona Choy
AVOIDING A SPIRITUAL "OOPS!"
3/1/2019 12:06:00 PM by: Leona Choy
PURSUING WISDOM
2/19/2019 1:29:00 PM by: Leona Choy
A THORNY MATTER
2/15/2019 10:42:00 AM by: Leona Choy
A SOMEWHAT GRUMPY CHAT WITH GOD
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A FISH STORY
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LET'S EAT NOODLES TOGETHER!
1/21/2019 3:07:00 PM by: Leona Choy
SATISFIED--A SECRET TO SHARE
1/11/2019 7:22:00 PM by: Leona Choy
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CHALLENGE OF THE FOURTH QUARTER
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KEEPING A TRADITION
11/15/2018 9:14:00 AM by: Leona Choy
PUBLISHING FUND PROGRESS
11/5/2018 8:58:00 AM by: Leona Choy
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11/3/2018 2:02:00 PM by: Leona Choy
A SHOUT-OUT FOR A NEW BUTTERFLY
10/31/2018 3:24:00 PM by: Leona Choy
THANKSGIVING IN OCTOBER
10/7/2018 5:53:00 PM by: Leona Choy
REPEAT OFFENDERS
9/30/2018 3:16:00 PM by: Leona Choy
SHINING WHEN YOUR BATTERY IS LOW
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I DESERVE IT...DESERVE IT NOT....
9/13/2018 7:54:00 PM by: Leona Choy
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
9/10/2018 12:35:00 PM by: Leona Choy
WAITING FOR GOD'S DUE TIME
9/3/2018 7:29:00 PM by: Leona Choy
STONES AND COVERUPS AND HOLY EARS
8/31/2018 10:44:00 AM by: Leona Choy
IT'S ALL ABOUT SHOES
8/29/2018 9:30:00 AM by: Leona Choy
THE HOLY SPIRIT IS MY CELL TOWER
8/27/2018 3:47:00 PM by: Leona Choy
REJUVENATION GOD'S WAY
8/17/2018 8:49:00 AM by: Leona Choy
STUCK IN THE MUD?
8/13/2018 7:22:00 PM by: Leona Choy
TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR
8/8/2018 2:07:00 PM by: Leona Choy
WHEN'S A GOOD TIME TO "EXULT"?
7/30/2018 3:00:00 PM by: Leona Choy
Survey For the Calendar-Challenged
7/25/2018 2:42:00 PM by: Leona Choy
Destiny Decisions
7/19/2018 10:25:00 AM by: Leona Choy
BEDROOM SLIPPERS OR HIKING BOOTS?
7/18/2018 10:44:00 AM by: Leona Choy
Hurrah for the Prepper Bridesmaids!
7/13/2018 6:01:00 PM by: Leona Choy
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS?
7/10/2018 5:35:00 PM by: Leona Choy
BARNACLES
6/5/2018 2:01:00 PM by: Leona Choy
