Motivational Message

Issue 18
Week of February 10-14, 2003

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Withstand the Test of Time
By Audrina Jones Bunton

As I drove home from work late one wintry afternoon, chilled from the freezing temperatures, I noticed the beautiful trees aligned on both sides of the road. Amongst the evergreens and the pine trees, one tree in particular caught my attention as it majestically stood, with its strong branches extending outward. This tree, bare from the many leaves that had once hung from its branches, daringly saluted the sky.

I thought about how this deeply rooted tree stood year after year, withstanding the test of time through the altering seasons. I thought about how this tree stood -- regardless of the many changes brought about by the sultry summers and the chilling winters. Through all of the changes, through the bend of the limbs and the fallen leaves, there it stood -- through the test of time.

Just like this majestic tree, it is imperative that we are deeply rooted in our beliefs, in God, and in ourselves, so that when life-altering events come to weaken us, or to make us bend, we will daringly withstand the test of time.

Attest: I will no longer bend to the life-altering events that continuously come my way. I will stand strong, realizing that through my deeply rooted positive beliefs, inner strength, and hope in God, I will be like the majestic tree that withstood the test of time.

Copyright © 2003 by Audrina Jones Bunton. REPRINTING THIS ARTICLE: Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this article only in its entirety and provided copyright is acknowledged. You can find other articles to choose from at http://www.purposefully-living.com/mailing%20list.htm

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Think About It!!
Psalm 1: 1-3 -- Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.