“Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” ~Seneca
When life gets dark and dreary and the rains of discontent pound relentlessly with a ferocity that tests our endurance, simple reminders sometimes help us see the wisdom in the process more clearly.
Perhaps the following poem can be the inspiration needed to carry us through the toughest parts of our most challenging moments.
Life can certainly get rocky. But it is in those trying moments that we find something within we didn’t realize was there and become something more than we had ever been before.
The Oak Tree
by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.
A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree’s leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?
The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway
But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You’ll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me
Until today, I wasn’t sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I’ve found, with thanks to you
I’m stronger than I ever knew
Before you go…
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Thanks for sharing that poem. It is so true that adversity ends up making us stronger.
Sebastian Aiden Daniels recently posted … 9 Forgiveness Picture Quotes to Open your Heart
My pleasure, Sebastian! I’ve found that adversity is a bit like a river. It creates resistance that strengthens or it drowns. The difference between the two is the attitude we take into the adversity. Some are crushed and soured on life, God and the world. Others are softened, humbled, and made more compassionate, courageous and determined. But the potential it has to shape is into a more polished version of who we can become is truly profound.
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts here.
Hey Ken,
Thanks for stopping by. That is so true. It is all about your perception of what is happening or happened.
Sebastian Aiden Daniels recently posted … A Tribute to a Father and 25 Quotes about Dads
Hey Sebastian, I just checked out those forgiveness quotes. Love them! Thanks for spreading the message of forgiveness. Such an important message to spread!
Meaningful poem!! Very Inspirational. I love that poem.
Jacob Edward recently posted … Why yawning is more important than you think
Thanks so much, Jacob. Yeah, I fell in love with that poem when I first heard is just a week ago today, as a matter of fact.
There’s another poem coming in my next post as well as part of my annual closing remarks I make to my high school seniors on the last day of class.
Let me know what you think of that one too!
thank you for your comments on The Oak Tree. sending to my grandson who is a Marine in Iraq to motivate and encourage him. sending him a box with supplies and including the poem and quoting some of your comments.
thanks again
I’m honored. Thank you, Rosine. And I thank your grandson for his service to the cause of liberty.
This is one of the most beautiful poems I’ve read in the recent past. I see myself in it at this point in my life and it’s a great encouragement for me. Thank you!
You’re welcome, Naomi. So glad you found value in it!
I have chosen The Oak Tree poem to be read at the funeral of my lovely Dad. He died eight days ago of Covid-19. He was a carpenter for his whole life, a craftsman and I feel the poem has even more meaning to me because of his love of oak.