Revisiting Grandma's Tree

It was 30 years ago…one year after Grandma died…after we said goodbye…when our son wanted to plant a tree by her grave…at that time the tree was 4 inches high. I was quite impressed that day with the love and wisdom he displayed, "I'm going to plant this by Grandma's grave, " He said, "because Grandma loved the shade." When I mentioned that little tree won't provide much shade…his answer gave me a thrill, "Not today, Dad, " he said, "but one day…one day…it will." Yesterday Deborah and I visited her mom's grave and that tree is no longer small…from its humble 4 inch beginning it now stands 45 feet tall. When we decide to plant a tree…that tree has no way of knowing where it will end up…where it is destined to grow…if it will bask in the southern sunshine…or weather the winter snow. If it will look out over the ocean from an island in the seven seas…if it will stand on top of a mountain and sway gently in the breeze. If it's lucky perhaps a young boy will see something special in that tree…and give it a chance to shade his Grandma throughout eternity. I gave the cemetery a final glance before we left and I had to smile… for this is memory I shall forever save… you see the sun was shining brightly… but there was shade on Grandma's grave.