The Ball in the Tree

I came across a letter from someone who sent me, close to the time after Cheyenne's death. It spoke to me then and still speaks to me and I would like to share what this Godly woman wrote to me...

"God likes to send me little true-life illustrations to clarify things—in fact, I’m on my second journal full of them! (Maybe He thinks I need the extra help…) I was eating lunch at school last week, struggling with how to explain my thoughts to you, when the answer unfolded before my eyes right there on the playground. One of the aids was trying to retrieve a playground ball that had gotten stuck in a tree. She had a long pole in her hands, and was jumping up in an attempt to reach the ball. An adorable little girl was really wrapped up in the situation, and was jumping right alongside her! Each time the aid jumped, so did the girl! Even though it did nothing whatsoever to get the ball out of the tree, this child was giving it everything she had. Suddenly, it all seemed so clear: we are not responsible for the outcome of another person’s spiritual journey, and I for one am grateful not to have to carry that burden! We are called to journey alongside others. Sometimes, it is a terrific season filled with blessings; other times, it is a difficult path that ends in despair. But in the end, each person has their time with the pole in their hands (the calling of the Holy Spirit), trying to get to the treasure (hope, joy, and peace) that is stuck in the tree (the troubles of this life). The bottom line is this: We can’t reach it for them; we can only be beside them, jumping for all it’s worth!!!... A pastor once spoke of how our lives on this earth were like the multicolored, knotted, messy, seemingly random threads on the back of a tapestry. At the end of time, God will turn it over for us and allow us to see the beautiful work of art that was created though all the things we didn’t understand. Amen!"