The Giving Tree

I had a unique experience in the library a few weeks ago. I was helping my daughter gather some books for her science paper. We start with children's books since they distill loads of information down to manageable nuggets.

The librarian brought me a book with the biggest grin on her face. She said to me that it was her most favorite book on trees. It was a fiction book, not what I needed, but her joy made me so curious I checked it out.

The Giving Tree was written by Shel Silverstein. The tree analogy was a bit weird but it did express the giving roll of a parent to me, and I saw the selfishness in the child turned man which was disheartening.

I asked my daughter to read it to see if she had the same sad but sweet emotional reaction I did. She liked it but it did not move her emotionally. She did decide to use it in her paper. This should be interesting.

Curious about the author I looked up his web site. There they recount this book had a hard time becoming published because some people felt the book fell between adult and children's literature. Harper & Row finally published it in 1964.

But then ... digging deeper I saw controversy over this book. Lovers and haters all weighting in. Plus analysis of his life experience to book theme. Wow, who knew?

For music lovers, this is the same guy who wrote  “A Boy Named Sue” for Johnny Cash and “The Cover of the Rolling Stone,” sung by Dr. Hook.  Who knew that?

All prayers are appreciated for a new song. The idea has been rattling around in my head for more than 15 years.

I hate suspense.

Below is a post from Susan Gregory of The Daniel Fast at daniel-fast.com. When I saw it in her newsletter I was intrigued enough to begin to read it. But, I hate suspense. So, when she said to write before looking at part two I just could not do it.  I went ahead and read.  Her message still slapped me in the face. She was right. I am not going to spoil it for you. Read on.

Let me present to you a simple little exercise that will reap many benefits to your life. Plus, using this tool will help strengthen the most important relationships in your life. 

Take a sheet of paper (really, don’t just try to do this in your head; it won’t work). On the paper, make a list of 10-20 qualities and characteristics you want your spouse, close friend, or other important relation to exhibit. 

For example, you might include honesty, confident, forgiving, funny, friendly, etc. 

Make the list. That’s part one of this exercise. If you want the full advantage of this exercise, you’ll make your list right now before reading the rest of this article. So go do it! Make your list . . .

Now, read about the second part of the exercise . . . 

Review the list carefully thinking about each of the characteristics you want from your loved one. And now here’s the big deal . . . 

BE the List! You BE those same characteristics to your spouse or your friend or your co-worker. What you want from them, be that way first! 

So often we grumble and complain about how we’re being treated. Or maybe we feel like we’re not being loved enough or in a way that feeds us. It’s so easy to look outward and even getting into a little blaming. Oh, I feel a scripture coming on! 

Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

Luke 6:42

I’m not saying we’re hypocritical when we’re being that way. However, I do think we are in a much better place when we look at what we can do rather than wait for others. So take your list. Choose a couple of character qualities that you want others to display to you . . . and instead give them to those you love and care about. Behave that way consistently. Plant seeds of kindness, love, joy, and caring. My guess is that you truly will reap what you sow. And everyone involved will be better off!