Julie Lavender

CONSIDER THE PECAN TREE
by Julie Lavender

A walk with God this week led me past several bare pecan trees. I’ve always thought they were rather unattractive in the winter, without their lush, green leafy embellishments and dangling fruit accessories tucked inside husks to protect the edible nuts.

Winter chaos and disorder

The barren limbs always seem to have no order, just chaos and frenzy protruding in all directions. And only a few random trees still have pecans 

attached. But, my husband says if no squirrels have nibbled on the remaining nuts, they are undoubtedly not very tasty. 

Brittle and dry 

It is easier, however, to watch the squirrels travel over and across the empty limbs as if they’re speeding down the freeway, with their weight often bending and sometimes breaking the brittle wintry limbs. But that seemed like the only benefit of the bareness.

Reaching for the sun

Ugly. I used to think they were ugly in the winter. But, today, God’s canvas was a particularly brilliant shade of azure without a hint of clouds, and when I looked up into the sky, I thought the limbs looked less frantic and more like they were reaching up to the heavens, straining to reach the sun to warm their cold fingertips.

The trees didn’t seem embarrassed without their spring and fall accoutrements; in fact, they seemed to have a resolute pride, an “I got this – I’ll see you in the spring in my full splendor” attitude, proudly displaying their unadorned limbs.

What about me?

I don’t think I have that resolve when I’m barren of my garnishments. When I’m stripped bare of accomplishments or abandoned by children who’ve left the nest or rejected yet again by an editor or devoid of cash flow in my bank account or infinitely and inferiorly less-dressed than my peers or bereft of an educated answer among my constituents.

When met with a winter’s chill, I sometimes shrivel and shrink in fear, too afraid to face the unknown or move forward.

Reaching for the Son

Why can’t I be like the pecan tree? Reaching upward to the Son, with my harried and frenzied limbs and my often-nutty life? After all, spring is coming…eventually, and I’ll surely bud again and be decorated in beauty once more, because after all, I can be confident that He who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  

The promise of fruit

God’s promised me such. Lush green leaves and more fruit than I can imagine or guess or request in my wildest dreams! Yeah, life will be bitter and cold occasionally, and even chaotic and nutty at times. But as long as I keep reaching up and out to my Savior, spring is coming.

And on those days when life gives me nuts, well, then, perhaps I’ll just gather them all and make a pie. Because nothing is more beautiful to a good ole southerner than a fresh-baked pecan pie. That’s a good work,  for sure!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Ingredients: 

1 stick margarine, melted, cooled

1 cup sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups chopped pecans

2 unbaked pie shells

1 cup miniature chocolate chips

Directions:

Combine the first four ingredients and beat well. 

Stir in the extract and pecans. 

Spread one-half cup of chocolate chips in the bottom on one pie shell; spread remaining one-half cup of chocolate chips in another pie shell. 

Divide the egg mixture between the two shells, pouring carefully over the layer of chocolate chips. 

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes, until the middle of the pie is set. 

What about you? 

When life seems to be a little nutty or cold and barren, what helps you remember that God has promised to a good work in you that will carry you on to completion? 

How do you get past a dry or brittle season in life?

Share your thoughts - or your favorite recipe - and let's seize the winter and anticipate buds and blossoms and beauty in the days to come!