One day when I was sitting outside…
I noticed something…
A single leaf,
barely hanging on to the branch,
of an oak tree.
So small.
So brittle.
Brown, withered,
Pieces of it broken and missing.
Slowly dying….
but still hanging on,
with all of its might.
All by itself,
Blowing softly in the wind,
and at times…
blowing violently.
I continued watching it.
It felt symbolic in a way.
Symbolic of myself.
I realized in that moment…
I was that leaf.
Hanging there,
all by itself.
Anyone else looking from the outside in,
might have assumed the leaf was happy,
dancing even…
to the music of the wind,
the rustling of the trees,
the singing of the birds.
But in reality…
it was merely trying to survive…
the season…
the winter cold had dried it up.
It would only be a matter of time…
that the wind would
break it from all of its security.
From safety.
From comfort.
But is it truly comfort and safety,
when all alone?
What if the wind,
was actually a symbol,
representing something deeper?
The wind is powerful,
a force to be reckoned with.
It has a name…
a voice.
Can you hear it?
Do you know it?
What if that wind…
is God trying to get your attention?
To get you to hear Him?
Do you hear Him…
do you know Him?
What if…
that single leaf,
hanging all alone on that branch,
is really you?
The truth is,
many of us feel like that leaf.
But know this.
You are never alone.
God is the wind,
talking to you,
trying to tell you…
that it’s okay to let go.
To break the grip,
and fall freely,
safely in His arms…
with full faith and trust,
that He will always catch you.
He sees you…
Swaying,
braving everything,
trying to hold on,
until you no longer can anymore…
until you eventually slip.
But it’s okay…
because He is right there, ready.
He has you.
He always has.
You have gotten through,
HE has gotten you through,
so many seasons…
so don’t be afraid,
to let go of whatever you
have been clinging to in life.
Give yourself over to Him,
allow Him to carry you…
through the wind,
through the storm,
through the good…
and the bad.
Because no matter where He takes you,
He will help you to fly.
To renew your strength,
To soar on wings,
like eagles…
So let him take over now…
He will give you wings to fly…
and he will remain right beside you,
holding you up in the wind.
And wherever He takes you…
know that it will be more beautiful,
than you ever could have imagined.
Copyright © 2026 Angela J. Stout
This Is My Story 