STOP AND THINK – Nature always takes her time. Great oaks don’t become great overnight. They also lose a lot of leaves, branches and bark in the process of becoming great. (Andrew Matthews, best-selling author)
We all knew that it takes a long time for an acorn to become a mature oak tree. But we probably hadn’t thought about all that happened during those many years of growth. The analogy to human life is insightful. As we grow, we encounter all kinds of experiences, some of which involve losses. Learning from them is an important part of maturing.
Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4)