Big Tree

My grandmother was born in 1917.  She is now 93 years old.  She has been in excellent health all of her life, not taking medication of any kind throughout her eighties.  However, she has had a number of strokes in recent years which have affected her mind and her body, and now she has dementia that is fairly severe.  A year or two ago when was visiting my family in Los Angeles, I saw my grandmother at church.  As I sat with her I reviewed the names of the all the family members.  This was the conversation we had routinely at this point in her life.  The names of her sons, their wives, their children, our children, where we all live, what we’re doing.  She was pleasant and excited to learn all the details her weary mind would so quickly forget.  As we were talking she paused and said “I wish we had a big tree.”   I inquired about this big tree and she explained.  “We could all sit under it and have a picnic.  And I could see all of your faces.”  What a brilliant idea.  I too, wish we had a big tree.  I’m hoping we will someday.  Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.”  Luke 13:18-19