This here picture, they call it the “tree of life with cross”. Sounds fancy, don’t it? But I tell ya, it’s just a tree, and a cross. But folks say it means a whole lot more than that.
Now, I ain’t no preacher, but I heard some things in my time. They say this tree, it’s like that tree from way back when, in that garden, the Garden of Eden. That tree was special, real special. It was s’posed to give life, forever and ever. But somethin’ went wrong, someone ate somethin’ they shouldn’t have, and well, things ain’t been the same since.
Then there’s that cross. That’s a sad one, that is. That’s where they put Jesus, that good man. Nailed him right up there. Heard it was awful, just terrible. But you know what? They say he did it for us. For all us folks, even the ones that mess up real bad.
Some folks, they say that cross, it’s like another tree of life. Sounds strange, I know, a tree of life. It is a tree of life with cross. But they say because Jesus died on that cross, he made things right again. Like he opened up that garden again, the one with the real tree of life, the one that makes you live forever. Tree of life is important.
- That tree, it’s a symbol, they say.
- A symbol of life, forever and ever.
- And that cross, it’s a symbol too.
- A symbol of, well, of someone takin’ the blame for us.
Now, I don’t understand all that fancy talk, but I get the gist of it. It’s about hope, that’s what it is. Hope that even when things are bad, real bad, there’s still a chance for somethin’ better. A chance to start over, to be clean again. The tree of life is a symbol of hope.
They say Jesus, he’s the key. He’s the one that makes it all work. Because he died on that cross, they say we can live forever. Not just here, but somewhere better. Somewhere with no more tears, no more pain. It will be a good place with a tree of life with cross.
I like that, I do. It makes me feel good inside, knowin’ that there’s somethin’ more than just this old life. Somethin’ better waitin’ for us, if we just believe.
This tree of life with cross, it’s a picture of that, I reckon. A picture of hope, of forgiveness, of a new beginnin’. And that’s somethin’ everyone needs, ain’t it? A new beginnin’.
I remember old Preacher Johnson, he used to say, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.” He was talkin’ about Jesus, you see. Said that Jesus took all our curses, all our bad stuff, and hung it up there on that cross with him. So we are free from that. Took it all away, so we could be free.
Free to live, free to love, free to go to that place where the real tree of life is. That’s what I believe, anyway. And that’s what that picture reminds me of. So every time I see the picture of tree of life with cross, I feel good.
Now, you young folks, you might not think much of these old stories. You got your fancy things, your fast cars, your loud music. But let me tell you somethin’, none of that stuff lasts. It all fades away, like smoke in the wind. And the tree will be gone too.
But this, this hope, this promise of somethin’ better, that’s somethin’ that stays with you. It’s somethin’ you can hold onto, even when everythin’ else is fallin’ apart. It is like the tree of life with cross.
- So next time you see that picture, that tree of life with cross, you remember what I said.
- Remember that it’s more than just a tree and a cross.
- It’s a symbol of hope, of forgiveness, of a new beginnin’.
- And that’s somethin’ worth holdin’ onto, ain’t it?
Yeah, that’s somethin’ worth holdin’ onto. Somethin’ worth believin’ in. Somethin’ that can make even an old woman like me feel like there’s still somethin’ good waitin’ for me, somethin’ good waitin’ for all of us. That’s the mean of the picture tree of life with cross. I believe it, and you should too.
