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By Lorie Ann Simpson
When you live in an area where trees are plentiful, you know what can happen when a boisterous thunderstorm sweeps over your house. Or at least I am. I have not always feared storms. When I was a little girl, I was fascinated with the power and the magnitude of a thunderstorm that would roll through our neighborhood. But now, as I’ve gotten older, I know the cost of that destruction if one of those trees fell on our house or my neighbor’s house. If I had my way, I would cut every tree down in my yard. But my husband likes the privacy and the shade that the trees provide. So, we will compromise and at least get the trees topped.

What I found curious about myself recently is that I would be sad about the loss of a tree in the front yard. Throughout our subdivision, the electric company has been cutting down trees that have branches reaching the power lines. We have a beautiful tree in the front yard, and when the leaves turned this fall, a beautiful orange color appeared that just brightened up the whole area. I told my husband I hoped they don’t cut that tree down because it was so beautiful. I think we both were a little shocked that I was actually commenting on the beauty of a tree instead of the destruction of what could happen if it fell.

It amazed me that something could be so beautiful, but if it fell on my house could be so ugly. So, I’m going to take away the beauty instead of the destruction. Hopefully, I can apply that to life. If we look hard enough, we can find beauty in everything. I’m not talking about physical beauty, the breathtaking beauty you see with your eyes. I am talking about the sweet, sincere beauty you can see with your heart. It’s there if we can look hard enough for it. I am thankful that God allowed me to see the beauty among the tree in the front yard, but most importantly, I am grateful that He takes care of His child during those storms.