April 2025 Prayer Letter

Shalom Prayer Partners.

Easter —a time of Love. Love took Jesus to the cross, for­giv­ing our sins and winning for us the gift of eternal life.

This Love is deeply reflected in Joy Cowley’s fable “The Easter Tree”

They planted the tree before the snow,
and waited for spring, to see it grow.
Winter passed. The days were fair
but still the little tree was bare.
Their father said ‘That tree’s no good.
I cut it down for kin­dling wood.”
The first child cried “Oh Dad please wait!
Perhaps the little tree is late.
It looks quite strong. You never know
when buds and leaves are going to grow.”
“A waste of time” the father said,
“Its obvious that the tree is dead.
Just look around you.What do you see?
New leaves on every other tree!
I’ll give this tree till Easer Day
and then I’ll send it on its way.”

The chil­dren watched their tree and prayed,
but bare it was and bare it stayed.
Good Friday passed, then Saturday.
Tomor­row would be Easter Day.

The first child said, “ What will we do?”
The second said, “I’m sure it’s true
that love is good to make things grow.

It’s worth a try, why don’t we go
out side tonight, just you and me,
and hug our little Easter tree?”

So out they went into the dark
and wrapped their arms around the bark.
“Dear tree, we love you. Please don’t die.
We’ll give you hugs and you can try
to grow some buds, just four or five,
to show our Dad you’re still alive.”

For several hours, the chil­dren stood,
their arms around the tree’s bare wood.
“Little tree we love you so
and love is good to make things grow.”
Then they lay down, in a heap,
beside the tree, and went to sleep.
On Easter Day in early light,
the Father saw a mar­vel­lous sight,
his chil­dren quietly dream­ing by
a tree that reached towards the sky.
Its leaves were green, it’s blos­soms pink,
Its beauty made the father think.
Love gives life. You never know
When love will help a thing to grow.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, so whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life.”
John 3:16

“God is love.”
1 John : 4 v16

Read Full Letter here.