The Tree That Doesn't Give Up

About 10 years ago, I purchased a miniature Japanese Maple and planted out in the front yard as an accent piece because of its miniature status.  After 2-3 years of normal growth, we had a particularly cold spring, killing the tree (or so I thought) so I figured what the hell and cut the tree back about 18 inches from the ground, maybe lower.  Nothing happened for the rest of the year, but the following year, the damn dream sprouted about 6-7 trunks off the single trunk I had cut back and within another 3 years had actually grown up and out beyond its miniature status.

The tree was originally placed so it would not interfere with backing out of our driveway, but after about 10 trees of slow but consistent growth, the size of the tree had actually become a hazard.  So, I did what any good lawn care specialist would do and cut the tree back to about half its size.  As I looked at the tree admiring my handiwork, I felt terrible because it looked so bad and I just knew that I had killed it and while I did not really care the first time I cut this tree back and it survived, I did not really want to kill it.

SIX MONTHS later after standing through the fall and winter and into the spring, this damn Japanese Maple started sprouting tiny branches off the limbs that I had cut back...  This tree just will not give up.

Similarly, I like this Japanese Maple will not give up with my battle with the two cancers that are raging inside my body...  and, like God brought this tree back to life, so too has God brought my body back to life as staves off the cancer that seems to be minding its own business at the moment...

At some point-in-time my Japanese Maple will die as will I, but until these there are many seasons through which we will both continue to survive.