Happy Arbor Day, folks! Live life tree-mendously

(oak tree below the Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church -photo taken by Gavin Dressler)

Journalist Julius Sterling Morton and his beloved bride headed to Nebraska territory in October of 1854. Settling in among the great plains, they built a four-room home on 160 acres of a treeless prairie. Being a lover of nature and newspapers, he had work to do!

First things first! To spruce things up a bit, he had to get busy, busy, busy. He planted shrubs, flowers, and a variety of trees, including an apple orchard on his homestead.

One of many achievements, Mr. Morton became the editor of Nebraska City News, a newspaper owned by his grandfather. A column featured his expertise regarding “all things agriculture” and his views and knowledge were much welcomed by his readers.

On April 10, 1872, Arbor Day sprouted because of Mr. Morton’s ardent love of trees and forestation.

It is estimated that nearly one million trees were planted on that single day. Wow! That is a lot of trees.

The special day commemorating planting trees became a legal holiday in 1885. A statue of Julius Sterling Morton now stands in the National Hall of Fame in Washington, DC.

“The lungs of the earth’’ make a difference. Trees provide beauty in barren land. Filtering contaminants, trees improve air quality. Strong roots of trees reduce erosion and lessen the force of storms.

The background of a favorite memory that puts a smile on my face is a tree. A quite large hickory once stood tall in my small sanctuary. The special tree served many purposes for my family.

It was a safe place where we all would meet during a fire drill. The kids knew if the house were really on fire they were to go there immediately. Thankfully we never had to call the Falling Spring Fire Department.

Suitcase in hand, a couple of my once young chicks hid behind that big ole’ hickory. It provided a place for pondering their need for “home sweet home.” I always welcomed them back with arms opened wide.

That tree was the place where tears were wiped and a hug was given the day Maggie, our black lab, died.

A place to rest, enjoy some shade, and have a picnic is memorable as well.

Unfortunately, lightning struck, and the hickory had to be cut down. No worries, though.

My children and I have a small part of that tree in our home thanks to Dwayne Rumfelt and his woodworking expertise. He took that big round stump and made four beautiful hickory bowls that serve as a reminder of the blessing of a strong family unit.

I have mentioned my brother, Andy. In December 1988, he was involved in a single motor-vehicle accident. Injuries sustained that night, including a closed-head injury, left him void of all motor function, a quadriplegic. He passed away in March 2001. There was joy in the midst of sorrow.

In January 2007, my father passed away following a six-month courageous battle with metastatic lung cancer. His acceptance in suffering taught me a lot.

My brother, Kendall, suffered a severe hemorrhagic stroke April 2009 from an arteriovenous malformation. Without surgery, death was certain. The potential for neurological damage was unknown, if in fact he did survive. Several weeks of occupational therapy aided in a complete recovery. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

In 2009, my favorite sister, Kathleen, had two successful surgeries to remove a rare malignant schwannoma. A blessing indeed.

My queen granny died from congestive heart failure in August 2012. A life well lived for sure.

In 2013, Kathleen was diagnosed with stage 1A estrogen and progesterone receptor breast cancer. Although quite distressing, she persevered through several surgeries and an extended recovery with relentless grace and unwavering faith. Ten years post-diagnosis, I am grateful for her continued remission.

I didn’t share all that to gain your sympathy or cause you to shed a few tears. Every family has a story. There are many trees in my family, and I have learned from each of them. But there is one tree that stands stronger than them all. Let me introduce you.

I am unaware of questions, if any, that she has as to why these crises happened. Observing this woman’s compassion that she so graciously provided to each one is heart-warming. I am confident that in the quietness of her downcast heart, she prays fervently, specifically, and expectantly.

Embracing her own anguish with tenacity and grace, this woman provides beauty in barren land. Saturating her life with the word of God enables her to filter out the contaminants of sorrow, bitterness, resentment. In the midst of those brutal storms, she remained calm, resilient and steadfast because she was rooted in Christ. Her selfless love and care that she lavished on my brothers, sister, dad, and granny in the face of their adversity is proof that “on Christ, the solid Rock she stands.”

I so appreciate her putting up with my shenanigans all these years. Part of my wellbeing, I most definitely owe to “the lungs of my family.” The unwavering strength of this woman makes a difference for certain. She gives “bloom where you are planted” new meaning.

Meet my mom.

Live like a tree.