Last week, with a bit of sadness, I glanced up at my ash tree to find one small branch with leaves that turned yellow—a portend of the fall and winter to come. The rest of the tree retained its green, viable appearance. While staring at that one branch, questions came to mind: With maybe 20-25 leaves, what about that branch caused it to turn yellow first? Perhaps that branch is weaker. Perhaps it gets less nourishment. Leaves change in the fall because chlorophyll breaks down. But why only one tiny branch? An arborist might be able to inform me.
As I gazed at upward, it occurred to me that single branch is a symbol of my own aging process. I’m in the fall of my life and I have a lot of years left. But that little branch is also a reminder of my aging body beginning to break down—one part at a time. (This week, my knee hurting. Opps! There goes another part. 🙂 ) I am doing everything to keep the rest of my leaves as healthy as possible, not only to remain active, but to stave off that time when winter comes.
In order to enjoy addressing my bucket list without a bucketload of work, I need to make my home and yard maintenance free by ridding myself of paraphernalia, retained for years, that may be useful to others. Those items that need to be kept in the family are being disseminated to children and eventually to grandchildren. Our wills and distribution of assets after we are gone have been addressed. Fact is, the more prepared to leave this world for the next, the happier I am while here.
Some might consider ruminating about the coming winter to be a bit depressing. However, I’ve faced my own demise many times—the proverbial one foot on a banana peal and the other in the grave. So I will exercise, do my best with healthy foods, keep my mind as sharp as possible. If the Lord calls me home, I am spiritually prepared and will have done my best not to leave a material mess for my children to sort through. Having done this, I plan to use some part of each day to address those things on my “I’ve always wanted to do that” list (a smaller version of the bucket list) and spend as much quality time with friends and family as my schedule and theirs will allow.
In others words, until the last leaf on my tree falls, I’m embracing joy.
Copyright: Laurel Jean Becker 8/21/18
Leave a Reply