“I’m going to give you the same gift,” her grandma told her on her 7th birthday,
“that my grandma gave to me.”
Then she took her to the backyard and pointed to a tree.
“I don’t see a present,” Grandma, “ her granddaughter said somewhat dejectedly,
“Just a big red ribbon wrapped all the way around that tree.”
Grandma chuckled. “That’s exactly what I said when my grandma gave it to me
Yes, for your birthday this year, honey…you present is that tree.”
“It may look just like an old tree to you but all throughout the Spring
she transforms into a music box as the birds within her sing.”
“In the heat of summer her generosity is unmistakably displayed…
She’ll be there to cool you off by offering you her shade.”
“In the Autumn just before the leaves from her depart…
She becomes a thing of beauty…a one-of-a-kind work of art.”
“She loves to sleep throughout the winter…as the snows to her bark clings….
So she’ll be ready once again…when you need her in the Spring.”
“The more time you spend with your tree…oh the wonders you will learn.
You’ll see she gives her gifts to you freely…hoping only for your love in return.”
“And perhaps the greatest gift this tree will give you…one of the marvels of her creation
is every time you play in and around her…she'll stir your imagination.”
“The more comfortable the two of you become…she’ll no longer be just a tree….
She’ll be anything you can imagine…and you…anyone you imagine yourself to be.”
“It is our hope…this tree’s and mine.” she said as she gave her granddaughter a lift…
“That one day you will come to understand…how every tree’s a gift.”
“And perhaps they’ll come a time when your climbing days are through……
you will give your granddaughter the same gift your grandma gave to you.