Thought for the Day 8.14.2026

Friday Tale ~ The Oak Tree

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 much I could endure.

But now I’ve found, with thanks to you,

I’m stronger than I ever knew.

~ John Ryder

That the Father would grant you,

according to the riches of His glory,

to be strengthened.... in the inner man,

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts

through faith, and that you,

being rooted and grounded in love....

to know the love of Christ

~ Ephesians 5:10-11