Here we go, a great little story to read on this snowy day... enjoy!
Willow’s Lesson
Here is a story that is not so very old. It is a story about two trees, and this is how it goes…
The sun was just beginning to peek over the Eastern Mountain, to smile down on the valley below as Willow opened her eyes and began to stretch her limbs and ruffle her leaves. Willow had a beautiful spot right next to the river. Everyone knew it as Big Blue and it was truly the most desired place to lay your roots. Willow had been resting by Big Blue for three decades. She had spread her roots and branches so far that there was no room for anyone else to grow. Willow was a nice tree, but known to be selfish and possessive of the things she thought belonged to her.
Willow did have one neighbor, his name was Buddy. He was a short sturdy tree that bloomed with beautiful red buds in the Spring. Buddy sat at the base of the Eastern Mountain and was content with his little rocky home. Willow and Buddy were not very good friends, because Willow was always bragging about her beautiful spot on Big Blue, or her long vines and beautiful branches, or perhaps she was complaining about how the birds wouldn’t stay out of her hair. One day a beautiful eagle flew down to see if Willow’s sturdy branches would be a good place to build her nest. Willow was horrified that anyone would dare to distract from her beauty.
“Why, anyone passing along will surely say - look at that beautiful eagle and her nest - instead of commenting on my flowing leaves and strong trunk. I simply won’t have it!”
And with that she swayed and shook and bent until the disheartened eagle left.
“ You really shouldn’t have chased that eagle away” Buddy said from his perch on the mountain. “She would have done nothing but graced your branches.”
“You think you are high and mighty perched there on the mountain looking down at me, but I say you are small and worthless against the great Eastern Mountain” And Willow shook her leaves as if to rid herself of Buddy’s company.
“I am small” said Buddy “Because that is how I was created. But being small is not a bad thing. I enjoy the company of many small creatures. I am just the right size for a sparrow and her family, I can shade and protect a squirrel and his winter store.”
“Pish posh!” snorted Willow and ignored him.
That night a huge storm came from over the Eastern Mountain bringing harsh rain and an icey wind. Buddy hunkered down against the mountain and pulled his branches down tight. Several animals ran to him for rescue from the storm. Every few hours Buddy would lift his head long enough to peer through the darkness and call out to Willow.
“I hope she is okay” Buddy would worry. “She is so close to the river and it is raining so hard.”
As the night wore on Buddy and his small group of rescued friends became tired and soon, all were fast asleep in a little huddle.
* * *
The sun began to peek over the Eastern Mountain and smile down on the valley below. Buddy woke and stretched his branches. All of the little animals scurried away to find their friends and family and see that they were safe. Buddy looked down at Willow and was astonished at the mess that he saw. Big Blue had risen high above it’s banks last night and washed away a lot of dirt, leaving broken sticks and mud all over the ground. Willow, sitting deep in the water, lay broken and mangled. She had split right in half. One side of her lay in the water slowly being pulled apart and carried downstream, the other half bent low along the water as she wept over her lose.
“ My beautiful trunk!” she sobbed, “My gorgeous vines and leaves! Gone - all gone, all is lost!”
Willow wept and cried but no one came to comfort her, no one had a helping hand or a kind word to uplift her.
Winter came with it’s icey waters and beautiful snow. Usually Willow would boast about how the snow sparkled on her branches or how she was reflected in the cool ripples of Big Blue, but she said nothing. She stood silent all winter long. Buddy continued to shelter the sparrow’s family, the squirrel and any other passerby in need. He enjoyed the laughter with his friends and soaked in every fresh new snow.
Soon the weather began to warm up and Spring made a grand entrance. Buddy broke out into beautiful bloom and Willow opened up several new leaves and spouted new branches. Like every Spring saplings took root along Big Blue and began to thrive but this year Willow did not push them out, or extend her roots into their way. Instead, Willow lifted her bent head and smiled at the young saplings.
“Spring is so beautiful and fresh” She exclaimed. “Just like you! You must grow strong and spread your roots far so you can survive the winter. But, always remember -“ And willow looked up to Buddy and smiled, “Always make room for others, because you don’t want to face the Winter alone.”
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