Palm Trees & Turtles

You liked to lay on the grass and stare at the palm tree.
"Under the tree" you would say. And we would look up together.
Jesus showed me that he took you there, under the palm tree,
just as you took your final breath.
You looked up together and you found peace.

You loved to stare at the turtles at the zoo.
Older kids would look for a minute and then move on.
You watched and waited for as long as it took
for a little turtle to poke its head out of the water.
You squealed with delight every time.

What did my girl see in the palm trees and the turtles?
Their resilience?
Their protection?
Their agility?
Perhaps you noticed the presence of God there.

Meet us under the palm tree
Jesus whispers.
We are there.
We are there.