Aaron's Tree

Shortly after our son, Aaron, died in 2002, a friend gave us a gift certificate to a local tree nursery. He suggested we use the certificate to buy a tree to plant in our yard in memory of Aaron.

I initially thought little of this idea. How could a tree in any manner serve to memorialize a human being, my own flesh and blood, who left us in the youth of his life?

But Karol liked the idea, and I soon found myself tree shopping and actually enjoying it.

We picked a Japanese "Weeping" Snow Fountain tree, which blooms in the spring with cascading white flowers.

This year, the tree began to bloom just before Easter. Four days later, only a few blooms remain, barely in sight in the photo (above). At the bottom of the photo stands our statue of St. Francis of Assisi, the thirteenth century saint and mystic who deeply loved God and all of God's creation. (Aaron's middle name was Francis, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.)

I hope your spring is joyful and full of blooms, cascading through every part of your soul and being!