1.     Oak. Tough and lasting.
Live Oaks are evergreen and live for a very long time, some about 1,500 years. They have a net-like root system that isn’t as fragile as other oaks and have some of the toughest wood. We might not want to live 1,500 years (I know I don’t) but we do want to last. God has plans for us here; we need to take care of our bodies that He’s given us in order to be tough. Tough is definitely not my number one characteristic, but through Christ and His power, I can be stronger than ever. I’ve been able to do things with Him that I could never do on my own. When I am weak, He is strong. Trees don’t just come out of the ground tough and strong. They are planted, they are fed, and they grow. It takes time. It’s not an easy task to knock a tree down, so like a tree, don’t let it be easy to get knocked down.

2.     Willow. Flexible and not easily broken.
Willow trees are my favorite trees. When you’re underneath a Willow it feels magical, like you’re in your own little world. Willows grow near water so their roots have easy access.  If we’re referring to water as God’s truth, then we need to be planted near water too. Think about it: all trees, plants, and any form of life, lives off of water. We need to be soaked in God’s truth daily in order to survive in this dry world. Willow trees also have light, flexible wood that doesn’t easily break. Let’s face it- sometimes life does not go our way. I can tell you from personal experience, right now, that that statement is true. People don’t plan on car crashes. We don’t plan on our loved ones having cancer. We don’t plan to have hardships. As silly as it seems, I didn’t plan on moving back with my parents and still working a minimum wage job after I graduated with a Bachelor’s. But that’s real life for me and a real struggle I have. One thing I’ve learned is to be flexible. If we are set on certain plans then we will be disappointed. We will break. This is the hardest lesson for me because I’m a planner. Literally I want to be an event planner, so for things to not go as planned really messes with me. But I’ve seen the beauty in being flexible. In letting God control the plans. It’s more incredible than anything I could have ever come up with. So, let’s be like a Willow, flexible and soaked in God’s truth.

3.     Pine. Solid Foundation. 
Pines have a long, tough tap root which extends really far down into the soil with many lateral roots stemming from that. Their many roots give them a solid foundation that helps them live long and fruitful lives. Yes, trees fall. But having deep roots make them stronger and able to withstand more. To be like a Pine we need to have deep roots and a solid foundation. We need to not only know what we believe, but why we believe it. Back it up. The deeper we dig into the Word, the more it will saturate us and the more our life will begin to look like Jesus. Pines produce cones yearly and can live to be well over 5,000 years old. As Children of God, we’re not here to just hang out and have a good time (although we do have a great time). We are to produce fruit. We are to share God’s word, strive to be like Christ, and see changes in lives because of it. We might not ever be able to see an impact we have on someone’s life, but still plant the seed.

We need to have a solid foundation {Luke 6:48}. We need to be flexible {Proverbs 16:9}. We need to be tough {Ephesians 6:10}. I could probably make a million more analogies and metaphors but I’ll save you from that. Next time you look at the trees, I encourage you to see God’s beauty, to see yourself. And rely on God to bring out in you those characteristics we so greatly admire in the trees.