The Magic Plum Tree

I am learning in these early years of my Grand-motherhood, that it is very easy to impress and entertain little children. This past summer, when the trees were full of green and the sun was high in the sky, I had two of my grandchildren at my home.

Kolly, age 4 and Theo age 2. It’s important to our little story here, that you know Theo wasn’t able to say his own name at the time. He called himself “Bud-Bud” and so did we.

The three of us were playing outside and I asked them if they’d like to go on a grand adventure.

“YES! Grandma! We would!” Kolly exclaimed.

“You’ll have to be very brave and have strong, strong legs because we are going on a special hike down a hill to a magic plum tree. When we get there we can eat the plums. Then we have to use our strong, strong legs to hike back up the hill.” I said.

They were certainly intrigued and amazed that their very own Grandma knew about a Magic Plum Tree. 🙂

Now, dear reader I would like to make you aware, that this thrilling hike was simply a walk down my backyard hill to the wild plum trees that grow organically in the little forest area behind my home. Very ordinary to me, but thrilling in a child’s eyes.

We walked, hand in hand, down the steep hill and please believe me when I tell you. The hill is steep, folks. This Grandma cannot push a lawn mower up it with any degree of success. 🙂

We made it down the hill and they were so proud of themselves. We ate beautiful, though very small wild yellow plums until our fingers were sticky and they had juice running down their chins.

It was heavenly to be with them. To see magic in their eyes. To stand witness to their tender innocence and thrill at such a simple thing.

When our time together at The Magic Plum Tree was wearing out, I told them…

“Now, for this next part we have to use our strong, strong legs to get back up the hill.”

“Ok, Grandma! I can!” said Kolly, and she literally ran her 4 year old legs up the hill and to the top. “I did it, Grandma!” She called down.

Theo, seeing his sisters achievement, started up the hill after her. His smaller 2 year old legs weren’t quite as capable as he had hoped and after a few steps, he turned around and plopped down on the ground. He look at me and said.

“Bud-Bud sit.”

I scooped him up and hugged him for a minute.

Then I whispered into his ear “You got this, Bud-Bud. I’ll hold your hand.” and then I sat him back down and we climbed together, very slowly…as Grandma legs and 2 year old legs tend to do.

You will be happy to hear that he did, in fact have “strong, strong legs” and we were able to make it together, almost to the top of the hill.

At the very end, when I could see he had given his all, I reached down and scooped him up, carrying him the last few steps.

When we got to the top and turned around to look back own the hill, Theo gave a big sigh and said…

“Bud-Bud Brave.”

I had to agree.

“Yes, you were, love. Very, very brave.”

The next morning as I sat pondering over the experience, my mind was enlightened further and several truths that I’d already learned became more solidified by this recent experience.

Our lives are so much like this little adventure down the hill to the fruit and back up again. Full of both wonderful joy and strenuous challenge. Throughout it all, the Lord is there, in His infinite wisdom and power and mercy. Cheering for us. Love us. Supporting us.

I would imagine He thrills for us as we take giant, robust leaps forward.

Certainly He is right there with us when we feel overwhelmed by the challenge of it all and just want to sit it out for a spell. Isn’t it just like our Heavenly Father to reach down and take our hand, to strengthen us with His power and His mercy and walk with us as far as we have the capacity to go and then… to lift us up and carry us home.

“Lift up your heads, o ye generations of Jacob and be ye lifted up, and the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle, who is the king of glory, shall establish you forever.” Psalm 24:7

These are words I needed to remember today, in the bleak mid winter, when there aren’t any green leaves and yellow plums in my backyard this morning. Certainly, there will be again.

My love to all of you. May the Lord be with you in all your joys, and especially in all of your challenges.