THE APPREHENSIVE LEAF

The other day, the little leaf in the image was still attached to the tree and was sighing and crying, as leaves often do when the wind blows. And the twig to which the leaf was attached, said, “What is the matter, little leaf?” And the leaf said, “The wind  said that one day it would pull me off and throw me down to die on the ground!” The twig told the branch on which it grew, and the branch told the tree. 

And when the tree heard it, it shook all over, and sent word back to the leaf, “Do not be afraid little leaf. Hold on tightly, and you shall not go till you want to.” And so the leaf stopped sighing but went on rustling and singing. Every time the tree shook itself and stirred up all its leaves, the branches shook themselves, and the little twig shook itself, and the little leaf danced up and down merrily as if nothing could ever pull it off. 

And so it grew all summer long. And when the bright days of autumn came the little leaf saw all the leaves around becoming very beautiful. Some were yellow and some scarlet, and some striped with different bright colors. Then it asked the tree what it meant. And the tree said, “All these leaves are getting ready to fly away, and they have put on these beautiful colors because of the joy and adventure they felt.” Then the little leaf began to want to go, too and grew into a very beautiful yellow color just thinking of it, and when it was a rich golden color, it saw that the branches of the tree had no bright colors in them, and so the leaf said, “O branches! why are you  such a dull color and we  leaves are golden and bright?” 

“We have to keep on our work-clothes, for our life is not done yet – but your clothes are for holidays and joy because your tasks are over,” said the branches. Just then a little zephyr of wind came, and the leaf, let go, without thinking of it, and the wind took it up and up and turned it over and over, and whirled it like a spark of fire in the sky, and then it dropped gently down onto the tarmac of a nearby road, there were no other leaves around but the bright golden orb of the rising sun shone right through her dry golden skin. 

In the distance was a man in a wheelchair and a woman who was pushing it towards the little leaf. “What is that bright light, shining down there in the middle of the road? the man asked. I don’t know, but it is very pretty, don’t you think? When they drew closer he saw the woman smile and say, “My gosh, it’s a little leaf”. “Even in death, this little leaf reflects the golden light of the morning sun and the message of hope it brings.” “Yes,” the man replied, “We, humans, are so different from nature, we are living, yet even in life, we don’t shine the glorious light of the Son.” The little leaf yawned and fell happily into a deep, deep sleep.

TO: SAVANNA- By Grandpa, Andre’ 01/06/2020

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