Support

Last Tuesday we stopped at Garland Nursery to just look. We were thinking about planting some apple trees in our tiny back yard and wanted to see what was available. Of course, nursery shopping is nearly as dangerous for us as going into a book store (when have we left without buying something!) so when we saw there was only one dwarf Fuji and only two dwarf Golden Delicious apple trees left we decided to buy one of each variety. David purchased the other items needed for planting the trees. Over the next day or two he planted the trees as it took several hours to plant each one as he had to dig a very large hole, add amendments and carefully plant the tree. On Friday he had James help him place two sturdy wood posts per tree for support. He then fastened a plastic "rope" around the tree and attached it to the support. this support system will help the trees to grow straight and heathy until they are strong enough to be on their own.

Looking out the back windows at the trees supported by posts bigger than the diameter of the tree (and much taller, until David cut off a foot from each post) I've thought about how we all need support in our lives. Like these young trees we need a lot of support as children (2 parents and others), but we also need support at various stages of our lives. Whenever I do something new it helps to have people I know who can give advice and direction. When there are challenges or problems in our lives it helps to have the support of family and friends. It is one of the things I like about the Church - we have built in support systems with home and visiting teachers. It is important to know that just as we need support at times we also need to be there to support others. We also need to know when to take the support away because a person just as a tree needs to be able to do things alone once strengthened by the support given. I'm grateful to all those who have supported me in the past and continue to do so today.