Hi Holly,
I wish peace for you as you remember your dad. It's good that you have the tree to remember him. I too have a special tree.
My wife and I planted a seven foot tall pecan tree in the back yard abut 2 years ago now, with the idea in mind that I would live long enough to see it bear pecans. Pecan trees usually do not produce nuts until they are about 10 years old.
Well, a couple of my grand sons were playing and running around the tree last winter and accidently broke the tree off with only about a foot of it left sticking out of the ground. My wife had them come inside and face grandpa and tell me what they had done. They were crying so hard they could barely speak, thinking I guess how mad gramps would be about his tree.
I calmed them down and told them I forgave them and thanked them for telling me the truth and accepting responsibility for their actions. (Boy, that's rare nowadays). I gave them a hug and said don't worry about it, we can always buy another tree. Gramps is not mad at you.
I never bought another tree, just left the one foot stump of a tree in the ground as sort of a reminder to me of my relationship with people and my attitude about things.
Surprise, this summer the tree sprouted new limbs and is growing like crazy. It's almost 3 feet tall now. How can that be? It looked totally DEAD.
I like to think that it was a sign for me from God, that if we have the right attitude about things, He will take care of the rest.
That tree is so special to me now, so much more than a full grown new tree, just knowing what it has gone through, It was dead as far as I was concerned, and now is alive.
It gives me something else to live for now. I've got to hang around long enough to see the fruit on that tree. Who knows? I'll do my best to make it.
God Bless
Capt AL