This past week I was reminded once again just how fragile life is. On Saturday, June 13, my son-in-law was rushed to Kearney Regional Hospital, where it was quickly determined that he had sepsis. The medical team went right to work.

Tests, scans, a procedure to insert a drain tube, all happened within just a few short hours of his arrival. It was discovered that the infection was caused by a very rare bacterium that had attacked his gallbladder and eventually made its way into his bloodstream. He spent four days on a ventilator and six days in ICU, but praise God he is now well on the road to recovery.

We have a tree in our front yard - a Kentucky coffee tree. They grow fairly quickly, which is one of the things I really like about them. I also happen to think they are a very pretty tree.

Our coffee tree looks nice and full. However, it is a little lopsided. That is because last summer a wind storm took a big branch off one side - nearly half the tree in fact. But my husband has been pruning and nurturing it, and this summer it leafed out again, looking good and healthy…just a little awkward.

A couple of weeks ago, we got another wind. This time, we lost a large branch on the other side of the tree. What seemed particularly odd was that the branch that broke was right in the middle, surrounded by many other branches. It appeared to be strong and healthy it’s leaves were nice and green. Clearly, though, it was not as healthy as it looked. Much smaller branches around it withstood the wind, yet this one completely broke.

Here’s the thing. You can’t always tell by looking if a tree - or a person - is really as strong as they appear. My son-in-law is a man’s man. He works for the railroad, loves a good cigar and telling jokes with the guys. There didn’t appear to be any overly concerning “cracks”. Until there was.

Sometimes the signs of a weak spot are present, we just ignore them. Perhaps our pride keeps us from asking for help or admitting we have a problem. Maybe it’s just that we don’t feel like we can slow down long enough to fully evaluate the situation.

Of course, we can’t always prevent sickness - or broken tree limbs. But taking the time to regularly examine ourselves and what is going on around us can be very beneficial. And when the winds come, lean on the support around you.