"The Oak Tree"

A Message of Encouragement to all moms who have and continue to endure the dark storm clouds that come with losing a child......

Joyce received this poem from her niece prior to her breast cancer surgery and treatments which began this past March 2010.  Joyce's daughter Donna shared it with everyone on Joyce’s “Caring Bridge” Blog this summer and I in turn wanted to share it with everyone as autumn and the first anniversary of my son Bobby’s death approaches…

"The Oak Tree"

by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr.........

A mighty wind blew night and day.

It stole the oak tree's leaves away,

Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark

Until the oak was tired and stark.

But still the oak tree held its ground

While other trees fell all around.

The weary wind gave up and spoke,

"How can you still be standing, Oak?"

The oak tree said, "I know that you

Can break each branch of mine in two,

Carry every leaf away,

Shake my limbs, and make me sway.

But I have roots stretched in the earth,

Growing stronger since my birth.

You'll never touch them, for you see...

They are the deepest part of me.

Until today, I wasn't sure

Of just how much I could endure....

But now I've found, with thanks to you..

I'm stronger than I ever knew."