Growing through Darkness- The Maple's Story

Six years ago we lost an old Black Jack Oak tree in a windstorm. It was sad to see the tall tree a mangled mess. We were blessed that it safely fell without tearing right through our roof. The following spring after it fell, we decided to plant another tree to take its place. My husband selected a beautiful little maple tree. It was probably 6 feet tall at the time of planting.

 Fast forward to today. I really hadn't paid much attention to the little tree and how it had slowly but surely been growing these last few years. While I was outside the other day, I happened to look up and to my surprise it had grown taller than all the surrounding black jack oaks that had been there years prior.

I thought it was a little astonishing. Then of course a sweet lesson.  The sweet still small voice impressed on my heart that this little tree had to grow upward to get out from under the shade the other trees were casting. It was growing through the darkness, pressing ever so slowly.... to the light.

Growth that went unnoticed day by day to the naked eye. So be encouraged when you go through dark times in life and you feel as if no progress is being had.  The growth may be unperceived by us now, but its happening. Its when we feel suffocated by the darkness most often that we fight hardest for the light.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 NIV

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21NIV