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Lady of the Woods
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The Lady of the Woods
dwells midst
the green light of trees
that stand guarding
the forest floor
~
She weeps
over the greed
that strips the earth
of its covering
leaving many naked
~
The powers that be
line their pockets
thickly
while others perish
in threadbare attire
~
The haves crave more
while the have-not
sleep to the groan
of empty bellies
to dream of old forests.
~
Wendy/2013
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I’ve never considered myself a true tree hugger;
but I will never forget the deep sadness
I felt driving past the first clear-cut I’d ever seen.
(These pictures are from a hike Ian and I took in November.
The poem is my response.)
~
~
It looked like a battlefield full of fallen giants.
The logging companies in Canada have improved greatly
in their harvest and reforestation practices over the years
thanks, I’m sure, to the efforts of environmentalists.
~
~
But the greed of humankind seems to be as prevalent as ever.
In my own heart and mind I face that battlefield.
I believe the Holy Spirit is the environmentalist of the human heart.
Only He can truly and deeply change it.
~
~
Keep your lives free from the love of money
and be content with what you have,
because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
Hebrews 13:5
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But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into the world,
and we can take nothing out of it.
1 Timothy 6: 6-7
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My daughter, Kara, likes to design dresses on-line.
She calls this one Greenlightlady.
Ain’t that sweet of her?
~
Godly Blessings ~ Wendy ❀
(PS – I’ve added this final one from my garden.
More flowers to come next time…)
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Gorgeous as always, Wendy!
Thank you, Sue. I know that you also love creation. ❀
I do..x
Lovely words bemoaning the devastation of our forests, our ‘giants’ once draped in green..
Thank you. I love how you expressed your thoughts. ❀
Great poem, Wendy. And beautiful pics.
Thank you, Cheryl. I love the woods. ❀
Wonderful images and especially the words Wendy. Thank you. I love the light in the images. Exquisite.
Thank you, Don. There is something healing in the green light of trees. ❀
Such alluring light…and beautiful words!
Thank you, Robyn. ❀
So true that trees have been cut down from otherwise lovely natural forests. Seems to be a worldwide trend for what some people call development! Your daughter is very artistic and appears to be a budding fashion designer. 🙂 Have a lovely weekend, Wendy. Love, iris.
Thank you, Iris. Moderation seems to be the missing link in so much of our so-called development. Blessings on your weekend. ❀
Love the dress!!! 🙂
Thanks, Hope. I’ll let Kara know. ❀
What a beautiful post! And the sentiments contained in it. I love the words on you photo, thayre simply beautiful. I sometimes despair at where we are all taking ourselves on this earth. We can all do our small bit and your post is a part of that. And what a clever, talented daughter you have too.
Blessings x
Thank you, dear Christine. x I agree that we can all do a small part…it adds up. I’ll pass on the compliment to Kara. ❀
Wonderful images and words, Wendy! And a very nice dress too!
Thanks, Camilla. I’m hoping she’ll start using the sewing machine I gave her to sew some real ones–when she’s ready. ❀
Beautiful images and words, Wendy! Have a wonderful weekend.
Thank you, dear Skye. I look forward to reading your blog. ❀
Wendy!!! Bravo! Beautiful and heartfelt ~Zoey
Thanks, dear Zoey. I think the world needs to know that there are Christians that love both creation and the Creator. ❀
Amen, sister!!
Great post, Wendy, both the photos and the thoughts. I love the dress your daughter designed; it’s a great rendering for the Lady of the Woods. I have a friend who calls me the Lady of the Garden, and when I create and publish calendars as gifts for my friends, they are entitled The Lady of the Garden. Hugs and blessings, Natalie 🙂
Thank you, Natalie. I can just imagine how glorious ‘The Lady of the Garden’ calendars turn out to be. Your nature photography on your blog is always an inspiration to me. Hugs to you, also, dear friend. ❀
Thanks, Wendy, for the kind words about my photos. I’ve always been pleased with the end products. This was actually the first year in a long time that I didn’t make one and I have many folks unhappy about that. Maybe next year, I’ll get it in gear again. 🙂
Thank you for taking us with you again and raising awareness about what happens to beautiful wooded areas that not all of us ever see or know about. You have such a tender caring heart! My youngest and I went mushroom hunting in a small park on the west side of town, only to find out as we went further down the path, that it had been hit by the tornado in Nov. Wondering if what we saw was similar to the cutting you witnessed. We were shocked, but people had been back there working, stacking all the trees, grinding stumps and then the whole area had these baby trees planted with plastic tubes around them and stakes to keep them in place. I was so so touched at the care and time that was taken to restore this little park. God bless you, Wendy!
Debbie, what a wonderful picture of hope and restoration you’ve painted. I’m familiar with the promising sight of newly planted trees. One of my brothers was a tree planter for a summer and after he brought me back a tree that’s been growing as a bonsai in the same pot for the last twenty years. Thank you, always, for your kind visits and for the inspiring poetry you write on your blog. ❀
Awesome picture. I love everything “forest/woods.” They intrigue me.
Thank you. A walk in the woods is a restorative tonic. ❀
Beautiful pictures Wendy, and a heartfelt poem, spoken as a true keeper of this earth! I wish we all felt this way, then there would be no fallen giants. I love your last pic best! That bee is so filled with pollen he looks almost drunk with it! Wonderful rich picture. many blessings
Thank you, Linda. The bees really know how to have good clean and green fun. ❀
Beautiful and touching in so many levels… and as per usual great photos…
I loved the biref poem the tree hugger, Wendy.
Both wonderful shots and poetry, my blogger friend, best wishes; Aquileana 😀
Thank you, dear Aquileana. I’m so thankful to have large trees growing around my home to remind me of the forests. ❀ I hope you’re having a peaceful week.
A gorgeous post in image and word! I am a fellow tree lover and it hurts to see them cut down. A crime against nature, really. Blessings, Ellen
Ellen, I grieved over a large pine tree that died at our previous home. Now, at our present home I rejoice in the spring when I see new growth on our gentle giants. ❀ Thank you, always, for your visits. ❀
Beautiful Poem Wendy I am a tree hugger literally, we will stop the car and hug a tree, the kids love it! When they see trees being knocked out for a highway they get so mad and I love that they care about nature this much.
Kath, I like the image you’ve given of a mother hugging a tree and passing on that love of nature to her children. Your art is wonderful–keep creating and writing. ❀
Wendy, thank you for sharing such a beautiful reminder. Your photos look so much like Forest Park in my neighborhood. I walk Eva my dog on the paths almost every day.
Thank you. It’s healthy for us physically and emotionally to walk in the woods. Your dog, Eva, is blessed to have you take her there. ❀
Thank you Wendy! She loves it, and I love watching her run with joy!
Wendy, I love this post. I shared a quote on facebook this morning that echoes one of your sentiments: “If we do not feel grateful for what we have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?”
The greenlight lady dress your daughter drew is gorgeous!
Jennifer xx
Jennifer, I couldn’t agree with your quote more. Just having a roof over our head and clean drinking water makes us wealthy. I’ll let Kara know that you liked the dress. Blessings, dear writer friend. ❀
Beautiful and breathtaking! And I love Kara’s design too!!!
My daughter, Emerson, saw the dress and said, “OOOH! I’d wear that!” 🙂
Thank you, dear Heather & Emerson. Kara smiled when I passed on the compliment. ❀
Thank you, Heather. ❀
A beautiful poignant post Wendy. Your forest walk is captivating, I enjoyed walking there…so restorative! I love the photo of the little cornflower with its friendly bee. A quiet place for me to be before my son gets married tomorrow! Xox 🙂
Congratulations on the upcoming marriage of your son. How very exciting! My peonies are blooming right now, and I’m wondering if one day they may be needed for a wedding for one of my three children (It’s along way off–I think). Blessings on the happy couple. Hugs ❀ .
Beautiful light in the wood
Thank you, Marylou. ❀
Great words, in your poem and wonderful photo’s of the wood
Thank you, Marylou. I have especially enjoyed the butterfly pictures you’ve recently posted. ❀
“I believe the Holy Spirit is the environmentalist of the human heart.” Beautiful.
Thank you, dear Linda. ❀
A wonderful tribute! Thank you so much for your support of the life-givers! 🙂 God bless you and your work! Truly, UT
Thank you, Uncle Tree. I’m hoping to inspire all people (especially the Christian community that I’m part of) to stop treating the earth like a disposable plate. God said the earth was good after He created it. I don’t think our stewardship of it has been good. ❀