There was an ugly fir tree at the back yard of my neighbour. That old tree was weird because all the side branches were chopped off leaving short protruding stubs and the top branch hanging over! See the illustration below. It was so ugly that it was an eyesore for many years. Many birds came to build nests and perched on the hanging branch. Oftentimes I wished that I would sneak into the next door to chop down the unsightly “naked” tree but out of our respect for the neighbour, I decided against it. Whenever our visitors came to our place, commented on the ugliness of the tree and the others gave their opinion on the poor taste of the “artist next door” to sculptor the tree into such a crazy state. “It looks awful”. And the others said, “It is a bad taste.” The owner moved out and a new owner moved in. Yet still the new owner did not chop off this ugly naked tree.
We did not have courage to ask the neighbour to remove it. So I prayed, “Please God do something about the tree. Please send the angels to remove this ugly tree!”

Thankfully the prayer was answered. About two weeks after I prayed, it began to rain. In the meantime, Ronald, my deaf son, asked me for an umbrella as he had to go outside to close the windows of our car. As Rex, my husband, was busy drawing a plan and I was writing a letter in the dining-room, a sudden brilliant lightning followed by a deafening bang lighted up the room. Immediately a strong vibration shook the entire house. Rex jumped up. Ronald saw with his own eyes the powerful lightning striking the naked tree. He ran indoors calling us, saying, “Look! The
naked tree is gone!” As we ran out to have a look at the astonishing scene of the shattered tree as if smashed to pieces with a gigantic fist of the monster. My mouth gaped in surprise. Then I clapped my hands and rejoiced exceedingly. Ronald looked at me perplexed why I was clapping my hands. I smiled as I explained to him that God had answered my prayer.

The lightning had thoroughly destroyed the tree. Smashed pieces of wood and barks were scattered all over the garden as far as the street. That eyesore had been wiped out mercifully by the Lord of weather! Praise the Lord for answering my prayer! The Lord says, “Seek and pray. He will answer.” Matthew 7 v 7.

By Marian Bothma (D) Nigel, Gauteng South Africa