The Oak Tree

Elder Ballard shared this poem in our stake conference broadcast this morning. We miss the "mighty oaks" from our yard in Brandon, but at least we can always remember them, especially when we're reminded of the lessons that we can learn.

THE OAK TREE

A mighty wind blew night and day

It stole the oak tree’s leaves away

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around

The weary wind gave up and spoke.

How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two

Carry every leaf away

Shake my limbs, and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth

Growing stronger since my birth

You’ll never touch them, for you see

They are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn’t sure

Of just how much I could endure

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you

I’m stronger than I ever knew.

By Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.