A circle of life…

Make a habit of two things: to help; or at least to do no harm. Hippocrates

And now a word to you parents. Don’t keep on scolding and nagging your children, making them angry and resentful. Rather, bring them up with the loving discipline the Lord himself approves, with suggestions and godly advice. Ephesians 6:4 TLB

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Years ago, when my husband and I bought our first house and were figuring out how to be good homeowners, I eagerly planted a couple of trees including a Bing cherry tree.  Rather than thriving, the little sapling began failing over a period of its first couple years.  I thought about how I had planted it in a well-prepared hole and had watered and fertilized it appropriately.  So what was going on?  Upon closer inspection, I realized that the base of the tree trunk was ravaged in a near perfect circular necklace shaped band. 

Did you know that the only living part of a tree trunk is the cambium, a small layer directly under the dead outer bark?  This is the layer that sends up water and nutrients from the roots to the rest of the tree and is also a pipeline for food, made in the leaves, for the entire tree.  Well, it seems that my husband didn’t know that fun fact! In his enthusiasm to mow and keep all looking trimmed and neat, he used the weed eater everywhere in the yard including around the base of each tree. Though all of our trees were injured to some degree, the established trees handled the abuse better and survived. The poor little cherry sapling with its tiny trunk just didn’t stand a chance. 

Just as with trees, we need to be careful not to harm growth in ourselves or in those around us.  Not just physical growth, but emotional, mental, and spiritual growth as well.  We need to be wise in using words that inspire thought, confidence, and reflection. We need to be kind, gentle, and encouraging.  Recognizing that each of us is a unique masterpiece created by God, we need to be careful not to unintentionally use words that cause harm, instead being very deliberate about nurturing the best in others as well as ourselves.