“I was listening to one of my favorite speakers, Joel Osteen. He was talking about having a “Bounce Back” mentality. He told the story of the Palm tree…Did you know that the Palm Tree can withstand winds in excess of 100 miles per hour? While other trees break, topple over, or are uprooted under the pressures of hurricane winds, the Palm tree just bends with the storm. In fact, the roots of a palm tree are strengthened the more they are stretched! This means that when the winds and storms pass, the Palm tree comes back upright, stronger than it was before.” (Excerpt from the article written by my newly found friend Michelle Whitley)
Like Michelle, I have my life’s’ share of roller coaster rides. I embraced a couple of bitterness. I considered two most tragic depressions were externally caused by selfish jealousy and moral defamation for one’s gain in the last three years. These were meant to harbor outrage on my part. Yet I walked down with a lowly heart and fine gestures. The virtue I learned is honorific. My family? Not healed, yet very professional. You can’t hear anything from them.
I have hesitance to engage with the people involved in putting me down, but I never planted hatred even at the height of sorrowful passion. I hold unto HIM. Years passed, I emptied the cup-once filled with anger and hatred. That is my winning formula. Not a word from me. I profoundly silenced my bleeding heart. God will give me justice. He said so.
Life must go on. But how? That was a question before. Now? Not anymore. I have passed through so many dark channels just to be where I am now. The cliffs were horrifying; the storm, as if endless; and, the scorching heat was unfathomable. It may sound weird, yet I know that it had to happen. It happened—With HIM along the way. He knew I can. So he let me carry the burden. I almost quitted. Then I quitted. Then HE was there…lifting me up. It was scary yet divine.
Like HIM, I was misjudged by many who do not know the truth. But he said, I do not have to explain for HE will.
Like a PALM TREE, the more I am stretched out, the more I become elastic. I am proud to say I am upright and stronger than I was before.
And so to say, I AM A PALM TREE. Are you? Or, would you?
