Annie’s Journal
by Annie Warner Donnelly
May 5, 2025
Hello Everyone. Recently, I received a card that reads “One tree stands tall, reaches for the sun, weathers any storm …”
Think of the seasons a tree weathers: the cold, stormy winds of winter; the strength it takes to bring new leaves and blossoms to life in the spring; the heat and drought of summer; and the loss of leaves as the tree prepares for Canada’s icicles.
We’re like that tree. Through the decades of our lives, there are seasons of heartaches; loneliness; uncertain times; heart-wrenching grief; fear caused by illness and difficult relationships; challenges we think are too great to bear, but woven through all these seasons are sparkles of joy; of discovery; of fun and fellowship; answers to questions and answers to prayers; and if we allow them, moments of the perfect peace that Jesus so consistently and lovingly offers to us.
When our identity is embedded in a Christ-centred life and when His truth is the foundation for all we think and do, we are building a life for all the seasons we will journey through.
Days like Mother’s Day provide an opportunity to celebrate what God has helped us achieve so far; to be grateful for how He’s helping us today with the challenges of the season we’re in; to be reminded that God never leaves us or forsakes so we know that He’ll be with us tomorrow and every day after that.
His presence in our lives increases our faith in Him and deepens our belief that we can achieve what feels impossible because the Bible’s true – strong – irrevocable and everlasting – words say that nothing is impossible for God; that God is love. His plans for us are to give us a future and a hope. He makes all things work together for good for us because He loves us, and we love Him.
We’re responsible for building our lives so that in all seasons the precious of gift of peace that Jesus, our Prince of Peace, offers to us remains strong and steadfast in our hearts and minds.
May the Holy Spirit guide us always. Amen.