Stand Tall

Posted March 31, 2025 by Jeannette Wilcock

Categories: Featured, Jeannette, Popular Posts, Sister Post

I look out my living room window to the large bare olive tree in our yard.  It stands tall yet fragile and exposed, as if life has been stripped from it. I can’t see beyond the barrenness of the world outside to the beauty that will be in just a short time. It is early March, two weeks after I had a brain tumor removed. 

Barren…

It all happened so fast. I went from being a busy Mom, running my business, working as a stylist, singing in church, and doing many other things I believed to be important. Yet everything came to a halt with the news of my brain tumor, as I tried to figure out what the next steps would be. 

My family and I traveled to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the tumor was successfully removed. 

Now I am home, recovering on my couch for hours at a time with my head propped up so as not to interfere with the stitches. Whereas I was begging for “more time” before my surgery, all I have is time now—time with my children and husband; time for all the extra things I wanted to do before and can’t do now. 

What a lesson I am learning! The world goes on without me! I wonder where my value lies if I can’t produce, control, or contribute? I wonder what God is trying to teach me? Will I be able to listen and learn? 

But Not without Hope

 As I try to listen, I hear these words: “Jeannette, I love you just as you are. Just like that olive tree that is stripped of its beauty and left bare in the cold, I know its worth and what I created it to be. It stands tall in the dark cold days and awaits its springtime bloom. It will be beautiful and useful again with its sweet fragrance drifting through the air.” 

Sister, we may be barren, but not without hope. This is only a season.

I feel bare, empty, in pain, and useless at this time I stare out the window, but God reminds me of who I am and my worth. He created me on purpose, for a purpose just like every little thing He has created. 

It’s been seven years this March since my surgery. The growth and healing that took place in those dark times were hidden. However, they became evident as I trusted God’s timing and allowed Him to remind me of who I am in His eyes.

This season held pain and gratitude, confusion and understanding, heartache and healing. Some days were long and difficult but somehow, I knew it would give way to a new season as I allowed God to heal my head and my heart. 

As I accepted the help and prayers of so many wonderful people, permitted myself to rest when I needed it, and sought to see myself as God sees me just as I am, I realized a valuable lesson: I don’t have to strive or produce to be of value to God. My value is in being a child of God—His creation and handiwork. I can revel in that glory and stand tall in all my barrenness and pain knowing I am who He created me to be, and in due time I will bloom again.

An Invitation

 In this season of lent, we are offered the opportunity to join our pain with Christ and reflect on what He endured for all of us. What a loving God we have! He not only walks alongside us, He comes close as to share in our suffering and relate to our pain. 

Let your eyes gaze upon the cross of Christ and let His love absorb deep into your soul. See the arms of Jesus stretched out to you. You are loved! 

Together we can look forward to new life and resurrection joy in Christ Jesus. Now that’s something to celebrate! So, hang on to hope and stand tall wherever you are, knowing God is truly with you and will never abandon you!