To have perseverance is a lot like being a tree. It’s not so much that they are often big and strong.  It’s about something they don’t do.

I live in a part of the country full of deciduous trees, like oak and maple.  Over the last two months, I’ve watched their leaves turn glorious colors and gradually fall off.   One day while taking a walk, a thought occurred to me that changed my perspective about faith:  these trees drop their leaves in the fall, not their branches.  If they had no branches in the spring, there would be no leaves, and the trees would die.  All through the winter they lie dormant, sort of asleep, like bears hibernating.  Weeks and months go by, and then it gets warmer, and here come the new leaves.  Their faith in spring keeps them strong.

To persevere means hanging in there during long tough times or when disasters come in herds. Having faith means not giving up even when everything suggests we should, believing that one day things are going to get better.  But what if partial faith is all you have?  What about when the dark in your heart and life seems endless?

Remember that winter is only a season.  Keep your branches up.  Spring will come.

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