Bend with the wind

“It hurts so bad, Mama.”

“I know, baby. But you can’t let it break you. You have to be like that tree out yonder behind the big house. You’ve watched it during summer storms, ain’t you?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“You seen it bend almost so the top touches the ground, ain’t you?”

“Yes, Mama.”

“You ever seen the tree break, Georgia?”

“No, Mama.”

“An’ you ain’t gonna, girl. God made that tree so strong the wind can knock down every cabin in Laurens County, Georgia, but that tree still be standing there strong and tall, branches up sayin’ “howdy doo” like it twern’t nothin’ at all being knocked about like it was.”

“Yes, Mama.”

“Well, girl, you be that tree. Life is gonna blow more pain at you than you think you can bear. This here aint’ nothin’. You’ll see that one day. But no matter what, you don’t let nothin’ break you, girl. You bend till you think you can’t bend no more, but you never break. You be that tree. Keep poppin’ back up, just as beautiful, just as strong, no, stronger than you was. You hear me, chile’?”

“Yes, Mama. I hear ya.”