Tag Archives: forest

Raindrops Are Falling on My Head -By Karla

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College Years

While attending Reinhardt College in the mid-eighties, Donna and I tried to follow Olivia Newton John’s advice of “Let’s get Physical” every Monday and Wednesday. We energetically headed to the gym to begin our aerobic workout routines. I don’t remember us sporting the popular headbands that many wore, but I’m sure some days we had on tanks and oversized shirts that hung off one shoulder, Flash Dance style.

If it wasn’t for the music and the laughter that we shared, I am not certain that we would have enjoyed stepping on and off those individual-sized, wooden boxes.  When our torture ended, we acknowledged the instructor’s advice of not eating or drinking for thirty minutes. Though after anxiously watching the clock for the allotted time, we would head to the Gulf station to get our Coke Icees. All these years later, I still have a vivid memory of us walking there even if it was raining.  We did not rush because of the wetness; instead like we did so often, we broke out into BJ Thomas’ song:

      Raindrops are fallin’ on my head.

But that doesn’t mean my eyes will soon be turnin’ red

Cryin’s not for me

‘Cause I’m never gonna stop the rain by complainin’

Because I’m free

    Nothin’s worryin’ me…

Later on in Life

Over the past thirty years, we have discovered that sometimes the raindrops do seemed more like Niagara Falls, and they have drenched us at times. Like most, Donna and I spent our childhood wishing we were older and more independent. But now that we are here, we desire life to be more carefree like that of our youth.

Yesterday, it poured. I mean cats and dogs!  Some thunder and wind accompanied the buckets that fell.  It was the first day of my spring break. I thought how most people would have been wishing for different weather, but having the bronchitis that I have had, I was content to have a slow start and stay dry for the morning hours. As I watched the storm, I thought how I have grown amidst that storms in my life. I am so thankful for my forest, like Donna wrote about last week, https://smorgasbordofsisterhood.com/plant-yourself/. If not for my forest, I am not sure how successfully I would have navigated myself on my own. My forest stood tall during my various raging gales over the years.

Detours

There are times when the storms so powerful that our paths become repositioned, just as streams naturally detour from mighty rains. We can run in the other direction or sat there and given up. However, I do not think that is what God desires. Instead, He wants us press on, using His mighty hand as our strength and courage. While our circumstances may alter our paths, God will guide up downstream when we allow Him.

Navigation

I am sorry to inform Mr. B J Thomas, but at times my crying eyes surely have turned red when raindrops from the storms of life have fallen on my head. To be completely honestly, there have been things that have worried me deeply. I strive to reach the point in life where I can say, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,” James 1:2.

However, as I listened to the birds chirping so freely this pretty April morning, I believe I have arrived in a place where I can look back on past storms and appreciate the beauty and serenity I gained after walking through.  I can boldly declare that I have experienced the joy that comes in the morning after the weeping that lasted through the nights. (referenced from Psalm 30:5b)

-Karla

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Accepting Help: Plant Yourself -By Donna

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My house and land is bordered on three sides by 200 acres owned by an out-of-town family. For twenty-seven years we have been surrounded by a forest. This year, what we have always dreaded, happened. The owners had their land clear-cut. Now on the outskirts of our 40 acres is a thin line of trees, and many trees that stand alone.

When a storm comes through our area, my daddy always calls to check and make sure no damage occurs.  Besides the Blizzard of 93, we have had no damage. But since the cutting, the last two big storms have knocked down large old trees, both times across our long dirt drive. One morning I had to drive down a small hill around a fallen tree on the driveway to get to work. A few stormy nights ago, Tucker called saying, “Bring me a chainsaw, I can’t get up the driveway.”

I pondered why the high winds were blowing over trees when it’s never happened before. Right or wrong, I have come to this conclusion. When there were 200 acres of trees standing side by side, together they were like a wall or barrier.  But now standing alone, they lack protection from one another.

I think life is that way. When you try to go through life, preferring to handle it alone, you may bend and break. During the last few days before my mama passed, my parents’ life-long forest was so obvious. In the hospice room, there were days when additional chairs would be brought in for the circle of friends and family. A nurse once commented, “We have never had a patient with this many visitors.”  My Daddy was well taken care of after her passing. His forest made sure of that.

“You can’t see the forest for the trees.”

My mama was my protection tree. When my tree began to wither, fear set in. I called my Aunt Kathy, and she arrived at the hospice, staying until the end. She has been there for me ever since. I have always kept things to myself and dealt with things alone. I just don’t want to burden others, or appear to be weak. You know the expression, “You can’t see the forest for the trees?” that was me. I had always been surrounded by my forest, but didn’t realize it until my time of need.

I came back to work, and my lesson plans for the month were complete.  Friends brought meals and gave gifts (which at the time I thought it was strange to receive a gift when a parent dies, but oh how I cherish them now).

I have had many challenges over the past year, and it has enabled me to see how big my forest is. I have a forest of co-workers, church family, related family, and friends. There were times I hesitated to accept help, but as I attempted to decline help from my Uncle Lynn, he told me, “the polite thing to do is accept and say thank you.”

Don’t be the tree standing alone. Plant yourself in a forest. Don’t let pride prevent you from the blessings of others. Someday you may need their strength. In return, you are a part of their forest. Reach out to those who may be looking for a place to plant their roots.

—Donna

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