Elder Ballard and the Oak Tree

Tonight at the CES fireside, Elder Ballard read a poem that really reminded me of this. The poem made me remember just how wonderful my English summer was. Here it is:

At home or abroad, on the land or the sea...
Upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand.

A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark

But still the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?

The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway

But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me

Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you,
I'm stronger than I ever knew.