I enjoy imagining what life in heaven will be like.

 

This tree house 

would be a perfect place to enjoy the eternal springtime with John. It has fruit bearing branches grafted to the Japanese cherry trees, which are gently bent over time to grow toward each other. Some limbs are pruned to keep them headed in the desired direction. There are open spaces on the first floor, providing a welcoming space for friends. The top is easily accessible with ladders, also grown gradually, and is more private with a bower of blossoms. There is a temporary structure of wooden beams in place to support the trees while they are guided. Even the grass is crafted to create soft chairs that are part of the earth.

 

The home that is my marriage grows slowly. There are parts of our relationship that need to be pruned, like my tendency to hurt John. Just yesterday I was tempted to complain about how he parked the car, but I asked instead of accused. He mentioned that his skewed parking was a response to the way I had left my car. Blush. Chop.

 

Over time, our marriage has begun to be fruitful. We are both noticeably sweeter when we invite people in for marriage group, than when we hunker down in our own corners of the house for the evening. I think people even leave feeling nourished.

 

We have been blessed by the support of many structures over the years... mentors who show us what a good relationship looks like, and books written by Chapman and Stanley and Feldhahn.

 

I appreciate the design team who created this magnificent tree house. I could not have imagined it by myself. I am thankful too to the people who help me create a marriage that is beautiful, comfortable and strong. I guess I do not even mind if it takes eighty years...

 

 

 

 

Photo by Joy Feerrar

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