The Little Red Tree

One of the greatest hurdles I've had to overcome (and still tackle daily) is the fact that I am no longer within a reasonable driving distance from my family. Perhaps it's the holiday season approaching, or the fact that I moved to the city where the majority of my friends (new and old) are from... seeing them with the option to spend weeknights and weekends with loved ones only reminds me of the time I wish I could spend with mine. Either or... this girl is homesick.

One of the greatest joys of autumn in my hometown is the little red tree that sits outside of our home...
Every single year for about a week or less, it sheds its leaves for the fall... only after they turn the most violent red that blindsides you as you drive past. One day almost 16 years ago as I hopped off the bus, my awkward pigeon toed frame walked hand  in hand with my mom as I explained the poetry contest I wanted to enter at my school. The prompt was, "When I turn around I see..." but I couldn't think of anything grand enough to satisfy my tiny mind in the creative process.

My mom stopped me at my drive way, covered my eyes, and spun me around right on the spot- and when she released her hand from above my nose, the little red tree sat there in all its glory. I wrote about that tree, won third at the state level, and forever more held an inanimate plant so close to my heart, it soon became a tradition to admire its beautiful metamorphosis. This tree may not hold much significance to many on Winpenny, but to my family, it will always be the tree that inspired a blonde haired 6-year-old to write a poem that eventually turned into a passion for writing...

While texting with my dad the other night, he sent me two pictures of the little red tree, explaining that the weather had been see-sawing this fall and the tree just didn't get its normal shade of vibrant red this year.

He continued on to say that it may just be because it is growing up, much like his little girl. Needless to say, my heart began to hurt as I turned off my phone for the night and the homesickness grew on. Closing my eyes, I began praying to God to give me strength to persevere until I can return home for the holidays next month... After the little red tree shed all of its color and its magic was long gone.

Yesterday, as I was walking home from a long Monday at work, the pang in my heart returned... but not because of the sadness brought on by the longing to be back in MD... but for the surprise that greeted me outside of my apartment...

The brightest of all reds swayed in the wind and a familiar rustle wafted on the breeze. I snapped a picture and sent it to my parents, tears in my eyes...

Looks like God knew if I couldn't physically make it back home, he could provide a little bit of home to me. This little reminder that his warmth and sense of comfort in the traditions and beauty that surrounds us was exactly the kind of the strength I needed. And as my dad reminded me with his response... God's fingerprints are everywhere.