About the picture I have chosen

I love to take pictures. I have so many on CDs around the house that I need to get printed, so that way I have them. The past few vacations I have uploaded the pics to get them printed. I love looking at them and the memories are nice.

This year we took 9 glorious days to Florida. Oh how I enjoyed it! I wanted to go to St. Augustine. There were things there that I wanted to see, plus it being the oldest city in America, I thought the history would be neat for the boys to see. We went to the welcome center and then started our 2 hour walking tour of the town. It was awesome. The fort and the battery were great. I can't imagine not going now.

I wanted to see the lighthouse. I don't collect them, I don't have any interest in them. But I love seeing them. And if I am close enough, I want to get some pics of them while I am there.



Oh how I couldn't resist this shot. If I didn't get there, then I have this perfect picture. Everything was wonderful in this photo. I have a very nice camera and I am very thankful that I do have it.

But if I didn't get there, then I would have missed out on the oak tree that is in the picture of my blog.

Now to make a very long story short. I got to church the Sunday after I was terminated from my job. Yes, I was devastated, but my life had to go on. I got to church and they all were giving me condolences, like I lost a family member. I took my usual seat in the back and listened to the message.

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.

Now, to you that may not mean much. But when I decided to go up for prayer, you see, I wasn't me. I my head was out of it, my life was falling apart around me, I didn't know what was in store for me. I didn't know how the bills were gonna get paid. I didn't know anything. All I knew is that I was a loser, not wanted, and a huge disappointment. All I saw was me letting my family down, letting Chuck down. I was a mess. I didn't want to get out of bed that day, I wanted to lay down and let it all go. I wasn't the wife and the mother, at that point in my life, it was dark and all I knew was that I was useless.

My beloved pastor is not only my pastor, but someone I worked with too. And he was shocked when I told him what had happened. Well, when he prayed for me, he told me I was a mighty oak. And that is where this picture comes into play.

If I didn't get to the lighthouse, I wouldn't have seen a true oak tree. You see the only oaks I have ever seen are the ones that grow straight up. A true oak tree spreads the limbs close to the ground, the trunk is huge. It has to support all the weight that it has to hold. It protects all that is underneath it. And then I got it, it all came to me. I am not useless, I am not a disappointment, I didn't let anyone down. Right there, all alone, Chuck and the boys were in the car, it hit me. I am a mighty oak. I have to have strong shoulders to hold all that comes my way, I am a mother, not a wimp! I protect the ground under me, my boys. I stretch out my arms in love to all that I love. I don't turn people away.

It is funny how a realization hits you. It can happen anywhere, but for me, I was right there in front of this amazing tree. A tree that has gone through countless number of storms, and it is still there. It may sway to and fro, but it doesn't move. I can't say that I am that strong, but I am a mighty oak.

And if it wasn't for that word that I needed to hear, this would be just another picture.