The Listening Trees & Link Up
(This is a playful post. I am thankful for the blessings of the week – the blessing of my husband, the blessing of all who walk through my porch door, a plate of scones shared, grandchildren making merry in a pile of leaves, little hands helping pull out tomato vines and learning to savor a chocolate mint leaf from the garden. A letting go breakthrough in one heart-wrestle and God’s whispered reminder to choose love when the hard moments come. . . . The story below came out of a moment watching a son telling his son to listen. . . and when I turned around, I saw trees with ears. . . and though I remembered the struggle to teach a child to listen and empathized, I was amused by trees looking as though they had ears. . . and as I thought about it all, this story jumbled and tumbled out. This too, was a blessing from God that made my heart smile!)
Once upon a time, just as long ago as it was a child did not listen, trees lived on the edge of a mountain, leaning over the valley below, listening.
They listened, to the sounds of children who played and did not heed the words of their parents – words like,
“Stop!
Be careful!
Pick up your socks!
Don‘t do that!
Put your toys away!
Help your brother!
Do your homework!
Play nice!
Share!
Eat your green beans!”
The trees leaning over the sides of the mountain listened. They listened with all their ears to hear whether the children used their ears and paid attention to their parents. If the children didn’t listen and heed, when the moon was the curve of a raccoon’s whisker, the trees on the edge of the mountain would tramp down into the towns and farms, stealing the ears of children who didn’t listen. While the children slept, they’d steal their ears to hang as ornaments on their branches and limbs.
Unless a child tried very hard to listen again, not with ears but within their spirits, the ears would stay, becoming a part of the tree, enabling it to hear further and further away from the edge of the mountain.
But if a child did learn to listen in its spirit, wanting to hear the things that ought to be heard, then the trees would tramp back down the mountain when the moon was the curve of a raccoon’s whisker and return the ears they had stolen. The child’s heart would be glad and listen with both their ears and heart to their parents, and those who listened lived happily ever after!
(Update: I told my grandson a few days after I had read this to him, that I was glad he still had his ears. With a conspiratorial smile, he confided to me that one morning, when he woke up, he felt for his ears to make sure his ears were still there. He was very relieved.
Remember Me Monday: #82 & Link-up
“I’ll make a list of God’s gracious dealings,
all the things God has done that need praising,
All the generous bounties of God,
his great goodness to the family of Israel—
Compassion lavished,
. love extravagant.”
~ Isaiah 63:7, The Message
In the Old Testament, God repeatedly, quietly and loudly, tells his children, “You have forgotten me!” (Jeremiah 3:32, Ezekiel 22:12, to name a few). It’s a heart cry from a father to a child who has forgotten all the love, all the saving, helping, little and big blessings – and it leaves me stunned when I realize our Father, the creator of the universe, who knows things I cannot begin to fathom, who authors storylines that leave me amazed, delights in all of us so much, He cries out, “Remember Me.”
While every day is a Remember God Day, I am inviting you to join me on Monday mornings to come by and remember what God has done for you, for your family. Maybe God sent a cardinal darting out in front of you, as if to tell you, “I’m here,” or broke a child’s fever after you laid it all down at His feet in a 2 a.m. bedside vigil. Maybe He stood with you in the wait of a prayer sent out, or brought someone you loved to Christ. Maybe He healed your broken heart, gave your courage, or you gave Him your dreams as a love offering only to have Him give them back in an unimaginable way. Maybe God helped you survive to bedtime after a crazy Monday, or forgive yourself for missing it with your kiddos –– Whatever it is, let’s Remember Him. . . in a “Remember Me Monday” love letter.
“My mouth will tell of your righteousness,
Of your salvation all the day long,
Though I know not its measure.
I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, O Sovereign Lord”
~ Psalm 71:15-16.
Let us delight in Him by telling the stories of what He’s done! If you wrote a blog post remembering what He’s done for you, join the linky. If you didn’t but still want to praise Him for what He’s done – write it in the comment section. Then visit a comment before or after yours! One of the beautiful things about the blogging community is the relationships it builds!
Rules? Write long or short, a list or a story, include photos or not. Just Remember Him and what He has done, and let the gratitude of your heart guide you. Let’s make Monday so Rejoice, that the goodness of God spills into the rest of the week!
Places I’m Linking at This Week:
Inspire Me Monday, Instaencouragements,
Legacy Link-Up, Recharge Wednesday
Faith on Fire, Tell His Story, Grace&Truth
Let’s Have Coffee Wednesday Celebrate Your Story
Scripture&Snapshot, Sunday Scripture Blessings
Sweet Tea & Friends Monthly Link-up
Maryleigh,
I love your story about the listening trees and the trees do, in fact, look like they have ears! Everyday is a great day to listen to God and remember His faithfyl goodness in my life. Thank you for the invitation!
Blessings,
Bev xx
I am still learning to listen along with my grandson – it was a fun visual to help me remember to listen! Praying we both listen and hear God’s encouragement this week. ~ Maryleigh
Such a great post Mayleigh, I like the fanciful thought of trees listening-I actually think they have stories to tell we would love to hear!!
What stories they could tell, Donna, of all they’ve seen! I wonder what they would say of God! ~ Maryleigh
I loved reading your little story! I remember coming here to your blog several years ago, and it is sad that I have somehow lost touch with so many bloggers from that time. I saw your comment on Linda’s post today, and I was so happy to be reminded to come here to visit with you. I didn’t realize you did a weekly link-up and will definitely be adding this to my link-up page. I don’t post as often as I used to, but when I do, I will enjoy linking up with you. I remember when you used to write about your boys being at home, etc., and it is amazing how fast the years fly by and how our lives change! Our dear boy is now grown, too, but thank the Lord, he lives at home with us and does his college online. I am eternally grateful to be his mama and that God has spared my life to this point. He is so faithful! I look forward to staying in touch with you here. It is so good to see your faithfulness to the Lord and His call upon your life to write. May He bless you always.
It is always a blessing when old friends reconnect! Two of mine lived at home while going to school – our college town has an outstanding engineer program, so it was a perfect fit in so many ways. It has been a tremendous blessing, keeping our house humming with feet, words and life! I am so glad you came to my space – and looking forward to visiting yours! Shalom, my friend! ~ Maryleigh
Maryleigh, this is a fun story with a great big lesson for sure.
Thank you bunches for sharing this with Sweet Tea & Friends this month my friend.
Thank you for your kindness – and for your Sweet Tea & Friends Linkup!
What a sweet cautionary tale :).
Thank you, Anita!
What an interesting story! The Bible talks about the trees clapping their hands so why not listening? 🙂
O I love it. That’s the way I think sometimes and write little stories. Your photo is so amazing. I see the ears 🙂
Above all do I love your devtion. Great lesson
Hi Maryleigh,
I love this sweet story! We all need “listening ears”, don’t we?
This month, I’ve been intentionally remembering God and those areas of my life for which I’m thankful when I awaken in the morning. Rather than focusing on the day’s problems, I’m focusing on His provision. It’s been wonderful!
Blessings,
Tammy
Maryleigh, thanks for beginning your writing with praises and blessings and appreciation. What an encouragement as we head through this weekend.
May it be a wonderful one for you and yours!
I know that the trees listen. Thanks for hosting and I hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thanks for coming by! Praying God’s Shalom in your week!
You have an amazing talent Maryleigh! I really enjoyed this post. Thank you!
Bless you, Jennifer
I so love your way with words, Maryleigh. And it’s so important to remember what He’s done!