What Doesn't Kill You

With winds reaching up to more than 80mph, a hurricane is a powerful and destructive force. It has the potential to destroy nearly everything in its path. With high speed winds, soaring waves and torrents of rain, it has the ability to tear down even the strongest structures. It seems nothing can withstand its force........except one thing......the palm tree!

Last Tree Standing

If you have ever watched TV or movies with hurricanes, you'll notice all kinds of destruction and chaos. Even the mighty oak tree is uprooted and torn apart with hurricane force. Yet, palm trees stand their ground- they are not moved. Sure, they will bend with the storm, but they don't break, and they are rarely uprooted. Quite often, a palm tree is the last thing standing after a great storm- a symbol of resistance in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Now you see why I chose the palm tree to symbolize this stage in my life. We can all learn to be like the palm tree. It's such a symbol of strength and victory!

Let The Storm Build Stronger Roots

Palm trees understand the meaning " What doesn't kill you makes you stronger". During a forceful storm, the palm tree is bent over so far that it's almost touching the ground. But when the wind finally stops, that palm tree bounces right back up. What's interesting is that the palm tree's roots get stronger with every storm it endures.

If the first storm does not uproot the palm tree, it becomes stronger for the second storm. Year after year, and storm after storm, it builds a stronger root system. Its root system (core) is its strength. It doesn't have hundreds of branches and leaves blooming from all angles as other trees, but instead it grows tall, remaining strong at its core.

How many storms will we face before we have unshakable roots at our core? We all feel the force of the storms in our lives. We all fall down (or bend so far over we are touching the ground), but do we bounce right back up when the storm is over? Pearl counting is one way we can bounce back up after a storm.(see my post on "Pearl Counting") Another way I bounce back up is by pulling out my favorite motivational quotes or scriptures that reset my mind and heart.

"For I know the plans that I have for you , declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Developing our inner strength and internal qualities at our core is what will help us survive the storms in our lives. Just like a company needs core values, we ourselves need a CORE set of values and convictions that bounce us back up after a storm and help us stand tall.

What are your CORE convictions?

Don't Resist- Learn To Sway In The Wind

What we can learn from the palm tree is the art of swaying with the wind. Sure, there are times in life when we need to stand firm or be resistant, but learning to be flexible in a storm can make all the difference.

Sometimes in our lives we experience the strong winds of change, and its not always welcome. By learning to be flexible or to adapt we can survive the strong storms in our lives and actually come out stronger. What doesn't kills us, really does make us stronger! I believe it at my CORE. This belief gives me strength.

"Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."- Romans 5: 3-4

As we patiently endure the punishing winds, the thunder, lightening, and rains of the hurricanes in our lives, we become palm trees. Showing the world that inner strength and flexibility are the keys for enduring turbulent storms.

Storms Can't Last Forever

No matter how big the storm might seem, it never lasts forever! Every storm has a beginning and an end. You are stronger that your storm, be patient an remain flexible until is passes, because it will.