The Family Tree

I have always loved being outdoors and experiencing nature. In particular, I have always been mesmerized by large trees. And maybe that is the reason that the term family tree has always held a unique meaning for me. The dictionary defines a family tree as a chart which shows all of the people in a family over the generations and their relationship to one another. And it makes sense when you think about the origin of a family beginning with a couple and then growing and branching out. But there are many more similarities which I don’t believe could be coincidental.

When talking about your family history, people often refer to past generations as your roots. They say that is where you came from which is true. But roots in a family also provide the same security and stability that they provide for a tree. Is it not the older generations and members of your family who are always the constant in your life when you need them the most? It’s those roots who keep you connected and secured in place when life becomes turbulent just as the tree roots hold the tree in place in a wind storm.

Think about the growth of the tree branch. When it is small, the surrounding branches provide support and protection from the harsh elements much like a family does for a young couple just starting out and trying to make ends meet. As the tree branch grows and gains strength it relies less on the other branches, and then one day it provides support for a new branch. How many young couples would never have survived without hand-me-downs from family members, leftover meals dropped off and help with fixer upper first homes?

Alone it can be very challenging to weather a storm, but with the help and support of family, you somehow make it. It is not unlike the way that the tree sways under the force of a huge wind. The tree will bend and sway, but it doesn’t break. The tree follows the same circle of life that we humans do. The new leaves sprout and grow. Then they provide the nourishment that the tree needs. But as with all living things, the leaf’s life comes to an end. But new leaves come to take the place of the fallen ones. Our families exist in much the same way. The young are born and then grow to take the place of the older fallen family members. But the beauty of both the family and the tree is that they keep going and growing, carrying on the legacy of all those who came before.