Three Trees

There were supposed to be three trees in my front yard. Dad laid the pipes for the septic tank to overflow into the rocks through pipes that have holes in them. The trees were supposed to be fertilized from the overflow. Two of the trees died. They were meant to be a covering for privacy and a hedge of protection against the noise of the traffic he knew was coming. My street started as a dirt road. Now it is populated by many cars, emergency vehicles, and foot and bicycle traffic. The one tree that remains is huge and tall and strong. The feeble wall built years later to accomplish the same goals as the trees has been built with used materials and not up to instructions, agreement, or code. What blankets this house more than trees or walls ever could is peace. The protection and safety of God’s peace is a shield and a stronghold of grace. One day, a car drove by and the passenger cursed me. The intention was to scare me, but the result was that I rose up in strength and defeated the enemy. No weapon formed against us will prosper. Our battles make us stronger, and the protection of our souls and spirits that Jesus planted within us thrive and grow, fertilized by the peace that is rooted and grounded in love. Fed by the overflow of all the things God is using for our good!