Grumpy the Gator

In Grumpy the Gator, a group of children playing encounter a grumpy alligator. The story teaches children to always keep a safe distance from animals in the wild, and to find an adult if they see an alligator.

Grumpy the Gator

Its Always A Story With The Hendersons

Tree limbs dangling in the air…

A ferocious storm rushed through our neighborhood, arriving with force and leaving debris scattered to and fro. Hurricane force winds tossed trash cans from yard to yard and landed them in the street. Decorative flags became battered as they whipped back and forth trying to hold on to their pole. Definitely a scary experience for people and animals.

After the wind stopped howling and the air was calm again, I glanced outside my home office window to see the aftermath of the storm. One of the first things to catch my attention was Β a long, thin branch dangling from the top of a very tall pine tree. The branch had broken off from another tree and while moving through the air during the storm, found a new home. Settling itself on the adjacent pine tree, the limb has stayed in the same position for months.

I have watched the limb sway to the left and then, to the right, during other storms. Each day, I expect to look out of the window and find this dangling limb gone from sight. Β I am amazed to find the limb still there, in the same position, after every storm.

This broken pine tree limb reminds me how we “dangle” in our faith at times, swaying back and forth, but still trying to hold on to protection. Have you ever made a bad decision when you know what you should be doing? Have you ever put your faith aside in order to do something for self instead of standing firm in sharing your faith? Have you ever felt like you were “dangling” in the air?

Yes, we are human. Yes, we make mistakes. I am comforted by knowing even when I make bad decisions and/or put aside sharing my faith, God forgives me. He waits with open arms for us to reach for Him. At times I may feel like a tree limb dangling in the air. What a comfort to know when I fall, He catches me, always.

Have a blessed 2019! Know that God loves you and is always with you. Be sure to watch out for those dangling tree limbs… πŸ™‚

Blessings,
Mimi

 

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56 Comments
  • Ellen Andersen
    Posted at 14:14h, 03 January Reply

    Love this post, Melissa. Great analogy between the limb dangling in the air and our faith as its tossed about in life’s storms.

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 14:32h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you Ellen. Have a blessed day! πŸ™‚

  • Jill Weatherholt
    Posted at 14:16h, 03 January Reply

    Beautiful reminder of God’s eternal love for us, Melissa. Happy New Year! <3

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 14:33h, 03 January Reply

      Amen. God’s love for us is eternal. Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

  • drchristyw
    Posted at 14:24h, 03 January Reply

    Great word!! Thanks for the reminder of God’s Grace and love.

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 14:33h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you so much! Have a blessed day! πŸ™‚

  • kathy
    Posted at 14:38h, 03 January Reply

    Grace. Nicely written. Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 14:52h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you Kathy. Have a wonderful, blessed day!

  • Gail Johnson
    Posted at 14:57h, 03 January Reply

    Great reminder! Happy New Year, Melissa!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 15:49h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you Gail. Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

  • Shepherdess for the King
    Posted at 15:00h, 03 January Reply

    Excellent reminder to keep holding on, Praise the Lord he catches us if we fall. Have a marvellous New Year. God bless you xx

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 15:50h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you. Have a blessed New Year! πŸ™‚

  • Invisibly Me
    Posted at 15:15h, 03 January Reply

    What a beautiful, comforting and uplifting post, Mimi. Wishing you all the best for a healthy, happy New Year – I hope 2019 is a good one for you πŸ™‚
    Caz xx

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 15:52h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you so much! Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year to you! πŸ™‚

  • Savoring Sixty and Beyond
    Posted at 15:43h, 03 January Reply

    Such a lovely reminder of God’s faithfulness. Happy New Year and here is to many blessings in 2019!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 15:52h, 03 January Reply

      Amen. God’s faithfulness is endless. His blessings are forever. Happy New Year! πŸ™‚

  • Julie Loos
    Posted at 16:16h, 03 January Reply

    I’m so glad He forgives us because I mess up all.the.time!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 17:18h, 03 January Reply

      Me, too. I am thankful for His mercy and forgiveness. Have a blessed day! πŸ™‚

  • June Foster
    Posted at 18:14h, 03 January Reply

    What a great analogy. It is so exciting to know that despite the many times we “dangle” and waver in our faith, God, always the gracious gentleman, will draw us near despite our failures. PTL. Thank you for your lovely observations.

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 22:59h, 03 January Reply

      We are truly blessed by His love and forgiveness. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed, wonderful day!

  • nancyehead
    Posted at 18:21h, 03 January Reply

    We had the same winds! My husband drove his truck around picking up wood for our stove. And his roof repair business is humming along now. The wind can be so damaging, but I love the sound of it hitting our house in the dark. Sounds like God’s hand somehow. In a way, we are all the dangling branch. The wind of His hand will someday carry us home. God bless! Happy New Year!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 23:00h, 03 January Reply

      Yes, in some ways, we are all the dangling branch. πŸ™‚ Have a wonderful, blessed evening! πŸ™‚

  • Vickie@Vickie's Kitchen and Garden
    Posted at 21:04h, 03 January Reply

    Makes me remember that sometimes we are just hanging by a thread. I’m thankful for God’s grace. What a great message today Melissa!

    • Melissa Henderson
      Posted at 23:02h, 03 January Reply

      Thank you Vickie! Have a blessed evening! πŸ™‚

  • Lisa Quintana
    Posted at 01:43h, 04 January Reply

    I hope I’m not a β€œdangling tree limb” but one that’s grafted into the Divine Branch, the One who steadies my soul.

    Great word pictures, Melissa! Happy New Year to you, too!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 14:28h, 04 January Reply

      Amen. He steadies my soul. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed day!

  • Jessica Brodie
    Posted at 19:55h, 04 January Reply

    Beautifully said. Thank God we always have our savior to catch us when we dangle and fall!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 20:17h, 04 January Reply

      Amen. I am thankful He always catches us. Have a blessed day! πŸ™‚

  • Marcie Cramsey
    Posted at 21:55h, 04 January Reply

    I love the insights you see in and analogies you make from the everyday things of life. You are very creative, Melissa! πŸ™‚

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:01h, 04 January Reply

      Thank you Marcie. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed weekend!

  • karentfriday
    Posted at 01:55h, 05 January Reply

    Such a great and interesting analogy, Melissa. Your words painted the imagery perfectly helping me visualize the scene and the limb. I sure relate to dangling in my faith and worried about falling, too. But glad the Lord does catch us with open arms!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:55h, 05 January Reply

      I am truly comforted knowing He catches me when I fall. Have a blessed weekend! πŸ™‚

  • Yvonne Morgan
    Posted at 05:41h, 05 January Reply

    I loved your reminder that we need to always hold on to God and He will get us through

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:11h, 05 January Reply

      Thank you Yvonne. Have a blessed weekend. πŸ™‚

  • Stephen De La Vega
    Posted at 13:35h, 05 January Reply

    Hi Melissa. Great illustration. There are times when I feel like that tree limb. Not so much walking away from God, but certainly ignoring Him sometimes. I’m thankful for His mercy and open arms. What a wonderful God we serve.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 13:56h, 05 January Reply

      Yes, I feel at times like I am ignoring God. I, too, am thankful for His mercy and open arms. He loves us forever. Have a blessed weekend! πŸ™‚

  • Penny McGinnis
    Posted at 13:45h, 05 January Reply

    I’m so thankful God is there to catch me. Thank you for your encouraging words.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:11h, 05 January Reply

      I am thankful that God is always there to catch me, too. Have a blessed weekend! πŸ™‚

  • adalaba@comcast.net
    Posted at 14:12h, 05 January Reply

    I’m so thankful for God’s steadfast love. I read in my Bible this moring that God’s love endures forever. Oh, praise the Lord!!!

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:12h, 05 January Reply

      Amen. His love is forever. We are truly blessed to be His. Have a wonderful weekend! πŸ™‚

  • Chip Mattis
    Posted at 19:55h, 05 January Reply

    Hey, Mimi. I do know what it’s like to dangle. I think I’ve been in a season of dangling recently. We moved from our home where we had friends and great Christian community. It’s been a tough road, but God is slowly building us back up. It’s just a matter of us waiting and being patient with his leading.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 21:15h, 05 January Reply

      I understand Chip. We moved from VA to SC in 2017, to be near son, daughter-in-love and first grandchild. We were comfortable in VA and had lived there for a long, long time. Moving to SC meant finding a place to live, a new church, new doctors, etc. We have learned more about alligators than we ever thought we would learn. haha! We decided to “bloom where we are planted”. My husband and I have become involved by volunteering in church and the community. We are still learning about the area and we know God is leading us on the path He has for us. Praying for you and your family. Have a blessed weekend! πŸ™‚

  • Barbara Robbins
    Posted at 21:18h, 05 January Reply

    Great illustration, Melissa. So grateful for God’s grace when we dangle and fall, that He’s always there waiting with open arms to embrace us when we turn back to Him.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:47h, 05 January Reply

      Yes, I agree. I am so grateful for God’s grace. πŸ™‚ He picks me up when I fall down. Have a blessed weekend!

  • Christina Dronen
    Posted at 23:32h, 05 January Reply

    Sounds like quite a storm! I have had times of feeling like that danging limb. It is comforting to know that God is with me though -through every storm and especially when I am weak. πŸ˜‰

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 23:38h, 05 January Reply

      Amen. There is comfort knowing God is always with us. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed weekend!

  • Karen
    Posted at 04:39h, 06 January Reply

    I love your analogy, dear Mimi. It reminds me of John 15 where Jesus tells His disciples that He is the vine and His Father the vinedresser. May we branches cling closely to the vine for spiritual life as we go through the storms of life. He will never let us go. Blessings on your New Year, sweet friend. xoxo

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:49h, 06 January Reply

      Thank you Karen. Yes, I pray we branches cling closely to Him. πŸ™‚ Have a blessed week dear friend.

  • Ava James (UrbMermaid)
    Posted at 20:53h, 06 January Reply

    So thought provoking and such a great encouragement to start the year. Sometimes people try to pull us into their bad decisions. And it is learning how to say no too. Will remember the ‘dangling limbs’.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 22:51h, 06 January Reply

      Thank you. πŸ™‚ Have a wonderful week!

  • Chloe Flanagan
    Posted at 05:44h, 07 January Reply

    Thank you for sharing this powerful spiritual image. I think we’ve all been branches dangling from a tree before. It’s such a comfort to know we aren’t doomed to fall away and die.

    • mimionlife
      Posted at 15:06h, 07 January Reply

      Amen. We are not doomed to fall away and die because we have hope in Him. Have a blessed week! πŸ™‚

  • jmshistorycorner
    Posted at 14:12h, 08 January Reply

    Yeah, I can definitely see the truth in all this. Hope you had a good New Year.

  • Lynn J Simpson
    Posted at 16:32h, 10 January Reply

    Oh yes! Definitely been there. Currently it feels like my branch is very heavy and bent under a heavy weight. Yet, won’t let go….

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