Hello again. Well, thanx to my friend Amy, I think I can do this!

Come sit a while beneath my tree or upon its billowy branches and rest a while with me.

As you rest let me tell you about my palm tree...

There are 2800 species of palm trees, but there is none that is exactly like mine! Let me tell you how they are all alike, what they all have in common. Then I will explain why mine is unique.

Palms like to grow in places, warm and full of sunshine. They grow close to water and some live in the desert near oases. They have long trunks that don't have growth rings like other trees. Because of this, if the trunk sustains damage, it never heals. The actual growth of the palm comes from the tender bud at the top of the tree and if this bud is damaged, the tree dies. The long trunk doesn't have any leaves until you get close to the top. Its slender, long trunk can reach 40 or 50, and sometimes 80 feet aloft. It's only branches, the feathery, pale green fronds from 6-12 feet long, bending from its top, the palm attracts the eye wherever it's seen. The seeds of the palm tree are in its fruit. (As is most...the seed is in the fruit! More on this later.)
It's seed is called a coconut. Some are called a date. The coconut is too heavy to be transported by the wind or too large to be carried by an animal. So, the palm disperses its seeds by the water. The coconut is hollow and the fruit can float in the water. This makes it really easy for the fruit to be moved by the waves or currents in the water. Sometimes a coconut will float along on the water until it gets pushed up onto the shore and becomes established upon that shore or beach. However, the coconut usually only lasts a week or two in the water before the harsh salt water spoils the seed. There is something called the "heart of palm" also known as the "millionaires salad". These are the young palm shoots that are usually edible...but removing them kills the palm. It takes 10-15 years for a palm to mature adn over watering can discourage root growth and the development of new roots.

So, you see, it is amazing that these things survive at all! The storms along the way can damage the bud that encourages growth of the tree, pests can damage the bud as well, and, of course, man's appetite. These things can kill the tree.

I said, I will tell you why my tree is different from the many others. Why mine is unique. I will begin with the word Tamar. The hebrew word for palm tree is Tamar (the date-palm that is characteristic of Palestine). Described as "flourishing" (Ps. 92:12), "tall" (S.O.S. 7:7), "upright" (Jer. 10:5). The whole land of palestine was called by the Greeks and Romans Phoenicia i.e. "the land of palms". Tidmor in the desert was called by the Greeks and Romans, Palmyra, "the city of palms". The finest specimens of the tree of this tree grew at Jericho (Deut. 34:3) and along the banks of the Jordan. Branches of the palm tree were carried at the Feast of the Tabernacles (Lev. 23:40). At our Lord's triumphant entrance into Jerusalem the crowds took palm branches and went forth to meet Him, crying "Hosanna, Blessed be the King of Isreal that cometh in the name of the Lord"! (Matt. 21:8; John 12:13).

Back to Tamar....in 2 Samuel 13:1-38 a story is told about a girl named Tamar. She was the sister of Absalom, son of David. Well, it appeared that Ammon, the son of David fell in love with Tamar. He actually became 'sick' because of his love for her and scripture says that " ..it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her". I'm not going to go over this story for the sake of space and time.

I, was a Tamar (palm tree). I too had that tender bud damaged by the appetite of man. The heart of this palm was literally ripped out. I should not have lived! I wanted to die! I refused to tell my story to anyone...carried it for many years. Forgiveness, yes, I forgave. The very person who did this , was the same person who took me to a chuch service where I rec'd Jesus as my Savior! I forgave. But, as the enemy would have it. Things happened and the incident became exposed to family, friends and church, years later. Family, friends and my church were no longer the same toward me. So I too found a place of refuge at a family members house! He too said, " Be quiet now and don't take this thing to heart". This person is Jesus...I should have died! I wanted to die! But God protected me. He planted me beside the water, he provided sunshine for my growth, and balm for the wounds. I can stand tall and strong with my branches and fronds outstretched and say.."Look what the Lord has done!"

My name is Deborha...come sit a while beneath my tree or upon its billowy branches and rest a while with me. If you have been wounded...I know the Healer. If you lack strength to go on ...I know the Joy-giver. If you feel you can't go on...I know the Deliverer. If your family is torn apart...I know the Restorer. If you just need an ear...He is near..and so am I ...come...sit a while with me and see... lets smell the splendor of the ocean breeze, watch the clouds pass over and gaze upon the beauty of His creation...it is YOU!

In, through and to HIM,
Deborha