The Rainbow Tree

The Rainbow Tree

“If that’s a fallen limb, why isn’t it dead?

It’s covered with leaves!”
 
Blaze and Tandy were walking through the trees
in the pasture behind their houses when they spotted a
branch that was arched over the path.
 

                                              A small voice whispered, “Silly, that’s no ordinary tree!”

 

“Where did that voice come from?”  Tandy jumped as she spoke.

They heard singing.             

                                              “ You just snap, snap, clap…give a giggle and a wink.”

                                              She pulled up to their feet in a chariot of pink!

Blaze and Tandy were frozen.

Who or what was this?

                                              “Hi,” said Sophie as she thrust her hand out toward them.

                                              “Pleased to meet ya!”

Blaze reached out, unsure if this was real, and gently

touched the small hand of a little girl who couldn’t be
more than 4 years of age.  She was perched in what looked to
be a wheelchair that was hot pink and glistening with sparkles,
jewels, and bells that were dangling like diamonds.

                                              “I’m Sophie, and you are……?” she asked with

                                               a grin.

“Well, I’m Blaze, and this is my friend, Tandy.”
“We were just walking through the trees when we…, well, we…” Tandy
cut him off.

 “What are you doing out here all alone, Sophie.  You’re

in a wheelchair and can’t even get around by yourself.”

                                              “Wanna bet?”  laughed Sophie.

She spun around quicker than you can say “Sophie does somersaults!”

She gave a…..
                                               snap, snap, clap….giggle and a wink,
                                               and she flew through the air in her chariot of pink.

Up, up she flew to the tree branch and sped across faster than

your eyes can track.  She left a trail of pink glitter flying
like fairy dust in her wake.

Tandy and Blaze couldn’t believe their eyes!  Who or what was

this special creature.  With mouths still wide open, a little voice behind
them whispered,
                                               “Gotcha!!!”

The two friends jumped and grabbed

each other so tightly that they each thought they might pop!

 Sophie was giggling so hard that the chariot’s bells were ringing.

“H..h…how did you do that?” gasped Blaze.

“You’re just a little girl in a wheelchair.  You can’t move that fast, and
you certainly can’t fly over a tree!”

Sophie shook her head as she sped down the branch and screeched to a

halt at their feet. 
                                                “When will people ever learn?” 
                                                “Can’t never could!   There is nothing I can’t do
                                                 if I believe!”

Tandy shrugged and looked at Blaze.  Neither friend quite knew

what to say.  It was clear that this child could not walk…they MUST be
dreaming!

Sophie asked if she could show them something.  They nodded, and she

motioned for them to follow her.

She pulled up under the curved branch and asked them to stand beside

her.                                         
                                                 “Now look up through the vines and tell me what you see.”

The children’s eyes rose up high as they caught sight of the morning

dew kissed by the sunlight.  Colors danced upon the leaves as they
dangled high above the ground.

Blaze drew in a deep breath, “Wow!  It looks like a dancing rainbow!”

“I see beautiful colors of light!” squealed Tandy.

With a…..

                                       snap, snap, clap….giggle and a wink,

                                                  Sophie flew through the air in her chariot of pink.

All of a sudden, Sophie was sitting at the highest point of the special

branch.  The children were amazed!

                                                  “Do you see all of these beautiful leaves hanging down?”

                                                  “Those are wishes of children from all over the world.”

“What kinds of wishes?”  Blaze wondered out loud.

                                                 “Why, wishes to be loved and cared for by others no matter                                                  how they look or what kind of problems they have.”

Sophie looked down deeply into Tandy's brown eyes.

                                               “Tandy, don’t you want to be loved?”

Tandy blushed and said, |”Why, sure, Sophie.  Everyone needs love.”

                                               “Blaze, what if Tandy wouldn’t be your friend if she

                                               knew you had that round scar on your belly from the

                                               the bicycle wreck?|”

Blaze shook his head and touched his striped shirt.  “How did you know about that?|”

                                                “It doesn’t matter!” shrugged Sophie.

                                                “EVERYONE is special, and EVERYONE needs
                                                to know they are loved!"

Blaze and Tandy agreed and nodded.

                                                “Every morning before the sun peeks through the trees,"

                                                Sophie began, "I tie the wishes of children on to this branch

                                                and pray that God brings them love and helps them

                                                believe that they are brilliant and special." 

Sophie continued as Tandy and Blaze hung on her every word.

                                                "Some kids are homeless, while others are sick. 
                                                Many of them can’t see or hear, but they all wish for love. 
                                                I’ve hung love wishes for children who think differently
                                                than we do and for those who can’t even ask for love. “

Blaze was puzzled.  “How in the world would you know that someone’s wishes
for love would come true?”

Sophie went on, her eyes gleaming with joy.
                                               “Because God promised His love, and we are all God’s children.”
                                               “God never breaks His promises! 
                                               Whenever I see a rainbow, He reminds me of those promises.
                                               So, I call this the Rainbow Tree.”

                                               “ It makes no difference who we are or how we’re
                                               different from one another.  We all need love, and God will
                                               freely give it to us!” 

Sophie glowed as she said the miraculous words.
                                               “I ask God for all the children to find that love every single day  

                                               as I decorate it!”

Blaze and Tandy lit up!  What a great way to begin every day!

“Sophie, could we help you tie on the wishes and spread the love?”

asked Blaze.

                                               “Why, Blaze," she replied with a wink.

                                               "I thought you’d never ask!!!”

The adventure beginsJ