When I saw the trees without their leaves, I was struck by just how large some of the trunks are. At the same time, I was stuck by just how small and fragile some of the branches are. When the trees are full of leaves, they look bushy and vibrant. Sans leaves, the trees show just how large and fragile they are, all at the same time. The fragile part is what really got me thinking. The smallest parts of the tree are where it grows leaves. We all know that leaves equal food production for the tree. That means that leaves equal life. The smallest, most fragile part of the tree is what keeps the tree healthy and alive.
Some people are simply larger than life. We all know those people that just command a room when they enter it. Those people have a really big trunk. Solid, dependable, can stand up to any storm. Sometimes we admire those people. Sometimes we wonder at what they may be compensating for (at least, I do). But I don't usually think about the small fragile part of that person that keeps them going. But I know that they have it because we all have it.
A big trunk is great for weathering storms. Deep roots are wonderful for keeping anchored. But the smallest limbs, the most fragile spots, the places that are easiest to break, those are the parts that keep us alive and help us grow.