Why is it that all the trees are starting to turn in my neighborhood, but the tree in my yard continues to stay green?  I should just tell it, ‘It’s okay. You can let go.”  But I know it won’t.  Every year I watch all the trees display glorious blends of fall color, but not mine.  No sir.  Not this tree. Even when the city posts the last ‘Fall Pick-up’, my tree stays green.  Really?  That’s when I  want to climb it and shake it, (but I am afraid someone would call the police and that could get awkward).   If I miss that last pick-up, there’s no where to put all those leaves when they do decide to fall.  I am going outside to have a talk, to the tree I mean, and state firmly, “It’s okay, you can let go.”

That tree isn’t the only thing that holds on too long.  We do that too.  We  hold onto worry and fears way too long.  Erma Bombeck once said, “Worry is like a rocking chair: it gives you something to do but never gets you anywhere.” If we could just learn to give all those worries to God; His peace would come pouring in.  “Then God’s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7 GWT) I don’t know about you, but having my thoughts and emotions guarded by God sounds like a pretty good deal.  They can really mess me up!  God is saying right now, “It’s okay.  You can let go.  “Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.  He will not permit the Godly to slip and fall.” (Psalm 55:22 NLT) We’re not going to trip when we get up from the rocking chair of worry.  Instead, we’ll “run and not be weary…walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31 NIV)

Point to ponder: What do you need to let go of today?