Umbrella Tree

“But I am afraid,” the little girl said.

“Why?” said the tree.

“Because the world is so very big, and I so very small.”

“We are all small when compared with the world, and one’s size does not matter when compared to the strength of one’s heart.”

“But the sun is so very hot, and the day so very bright.”

“Then sit below my branches when you are weary, and I will shade you from the sun until your strength returns.”

“But the weather is so terrible at times. What if it blows me away, and I am lost to the wind?”

“Then sit below my branches when the wind gusts and the rain falls in sheets, and I will shelter you from the storm until fair weather returns.”

“But what of the night? It is so dark, and filled with so many horrors.”

“Then sit within my branches, and I will shelter you from the beasts that prowl in the darkness.”

“You would do all that?”

“Yes.”

“But why?”

“For the same reason the sun is hot, the weather wild, and the night dark—it is my nature, and that is a great comfort.”

“Yes,” said the little girl. “It is indeed.”

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Tanya Miranda - 8 years ago

So sweet. Reads like a children’s board book. It reminds me of the Runaway Bunny, where her mother has an answer for each of the little bunny’s questions.

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Tanya. I haven’t read the Runaway Bunny, but it sounds cute. 🙂

    Reply
Sophie Duncan - 8 years ago

Wonderful – this one feels like a fable, one to explain to children why something is what it is – it made me smile 🙂
Sophie
Sophie’s Thoughts & Fumbles
FB3X
Wittegen Press

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Sophie. 🙂

    Reply
Tasha - 8 years ago

How very beautiful.
Tasha
Tasha’s Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thank you, Tasha. 🙂

    Reply
Jennifer L. Hawes - 8 years ago

This would make the perfect PB. I can visualize the illustrations!

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Jennifer. I really wish I could draw because it would be a lot of fun doing illustrations for stories.

    Reply
C-raig - 8 years ago

Nice; it reads like an homage to The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, but the tree doesn’t get cut down…

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Craig. I actually had that story in mind while writing this. 🙂

    Reply
Djinnia - 8 years ago

Love! I agree that it totally should be a picture book for kids!

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Djinnia! 🙂

    Reply
J.H. Moncrieff - 8 years ago

If only more people appreciated trees this way.

Lovely. Another awesome post.

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thank you. 🙂

    Reply
Susan Scott - 8 years ago

Ah, lovely Sara thank you. I know you love trees as the creatures are usually in among them. This one makes my heart melt – it’s like an ode to the tree in all it’s beauty and grandeur and givingness.

Have a lovely weekend ..

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Susan. I’m rather fond of this story as well. Hope you also have a great weekend. 🙂

    Reply
Hilary - 8 years ago

Hi Sara .. this is beautiful .. I learnt so much about the Oak tree in my A -Z 2011 series .. a tree provides a huge amount of life – 200 organisms at least …

The tree, however small, however thorny provides an umbrella to many .. cheers Hilary

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    I didn’t know that about the oak tree, how fascinating and wonderful. Thank you, Hilary. 🙂

    Reply
Samantha Mozart - 8 years ago

“It is my nature.” True. Such a sweet, poignant story, Sara, and as Susan Scott says, an ode to the tree. Lovely.

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Samantha. 🙂

    Reply
A Joyful Chaos - 8 years ago

Beautiful!

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thank you! 🙂

    Reply
Nick Wilford - 8 years ago

Nice! Have to agree with the picture book suggestion. I always thought there was wisdom in trees.

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    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Me too–they’re so old, surely they know a thing or two. 😉 Thanks, Nick!

    Reply
JazzFeathers - 8 years ago

Beautiful.
It touched me.

@JazzFeathers
The Old Shelter – Roaring Twenties

Reply
    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Sarah. Glad you liked it. 🙂

    Reply
Sue Archer - 8 years ago

What a lovely story. Just what I needed today, Sara! 🙂

Reply
    Sara C. Snider - 8 years ago

    Thanks, Sue! Glad to hear it. 🙂

    Reply
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