My Favorite Tree
My favorite tree
Cedar...........
It is a soft and feminine wood, igniting quickly, burning hotly, in fact, it is the base for many fires. It is all the more beautiful for its imperfections and repels the undesirables, while inviting others to take rest, yet, it remains sweet smelling and fragrant throughout all of her duties. Cedar, it is the most feminine of woods...........not the strongest, not the most yielding, yet the perfect compliment to those around her without losing her own identify in the forest.
Cedar, that is the wood that houses the hopes of children, holding tightly to a little girls' first pinafore and valentine card. The young women place hopes and dreams along with china and linens inside her embrace. Little boys tuck their marbles and pocket knives away for the night inside her hinges, trusting that they will find them there, safe and secure when the morning comes again. Young men store away their war medals, glad to be putting them away. They are secure that she will keep them safely inside should they ever care to look upon them again.
Grandmothers hide away the cherished first drawings of their grandchildren, knowing that childhood will pass away all to quickly.
Grandfathers lift her lid time after time, to look at the photo of his young bride. The cedar box holds the memory of his wife who is here no more.
Cedar was there to greet us a babes, she offered us comfort and familiarity when our mothers laid us to our cradle.
Cedar will carry us into our graves, just for our asking.
Cedar is strong, fragrant, loyal, compassionate. She stands quietly waiting for the invitation into our lives, just as she stood through the long winter, knowing she would be ready to welcome the spring again. She is sturdy enough to serves us for our lifetime.
