Father Knows

 

“Notice that the stiffest tree is most easily cracked, while the bamboo or willow survives by bending with the wind.”                 -- Bruce Lee

Don’t they look beautiful, those weeping willows swaying in the wind? In a soft breeze they nod calmly back and forth in a sort of hypnotic lullaby of swishhh, swishhh, swishhh...while a storm causes them to whip around in a defiant “you can’t knock me down” mode.

Well, maybe the willow itself stands tall in a heavy gale, but its branches are another story. They are everywhere, all over the ground! As a child I often begged my father to plant a willow, for, as I pleaded my case, “they are so pretty, Dad!” Without fail, Dad always replied with a shake of his head, “No. They are way too messy.” And, also without fail, I would grumble (under my breath of course), “You just don’t know what you’re talking about, Dad.”

But Dad did know, as dads often do. He knew I’d be the one weeping if we planted a willow! In Wisconsin we are neighbors to a gorgeous such specimen. It’s tall and full and quite spectacular as it stands majestically just on the other side of the lot line. Oh, and it’s really, really messy as it lets loose of its twigs and branches—all over our yard. When it’s time to cut the grass you either do a pre-mow pickup of  the bigger stuff or plow right over all the little stuff. It’s like what T. Jackson Anderson wrote of his willow issues, “Willow trees are messy. In fact, only my daughters and pecan trees rival willow trees in messiness. Of course, my daughters are beautiful, so they can be excused. Pecan trees, at least, are useful; they produce pecans in exchange for those hard to rake leaves. Now, I know what you are saying: willow trees are useful. Aspirin comes from willow trees. I know aspirin comes from willow trees, but trust me on this – willow trees are evil.”

Well, whether or not a willow tree is capable of evil remains to be seen, but every time I mow over its detritus I am reminded of my father’s wisdom—and my Father’s wisdom. We honor our human fathers for their care and their wise counsel, while also realizing their frailties and human foibles. Our heavenly Father has no such issues. He is right, He is knowledgeable, He is wise—about everything, all the time.  And as Romans 11:33 reminds us, we would do well to remember that. “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!”

 

The Father knows!