It's limbs were large and strong, stretching all the way to the ground as if extending it's hands to the children. It's overhanging limbs with leaves created a magical playground hidden from the rest of the world. As we climbed underneath into this special place, I couldn't help but feel like a big kid. My children giggled and squealed in delight as they climbed, hung upside down like monkeys and ran from limb to limb as if they were in an enchanted forest. They gave big hugs to this tree, although there little arms could not even cover the front of his enormous trunk. They discovered that this tree looked like it had a face (it really did appear that way!) so they began telling it their wishes in hopes the tree could help make them come true. They whispered to each other, eyes wide and full of wonder as they waited for this tree to talk to them. When the wind blew the leaves would shake they would take that sound as the tree's voice. There giggles echoed among the small forest and I know that sound will be forever recorded in my heart.
It is such a wonderful feeling for a Mom to see the innocence of your children believing in their own imagination. For those precious few hours everything else went away except the pure magic of childhood. Too often in our world today children are forced to grow up, stop dreaming and understand how the world really works. I cannot imagine wanting that for any child. Childhood is so short and so very precious. I say let them play, let them wander, let them dream, simply let them be the small innocent children that God intended them to be. I know that yesterday we made a wonderful new friend, one whom we will visit very often in the near future. I am going to make sure I have my camera in hand on our next visit so I can capture a portrait of this very special tree that will most likely always be rememberd as part of their sweet childhood!
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