Grow Together

 

This is a story of a logger and his nephew, chopping wood for lumber. The nephew noticed a tall tree standing by itself and said they should chop it down for good lumber. His uncle explained that, when a tree grows all by itself, it has too many branches that cause too many knots, and it is not useful for lumber. Similarly, we need to "grow together" to become our best selves.

I asked a father and his son to pose for me for this painting. Since then, I have come to know and love them--I have taught the son in cub scouts, and the father has become part of our bishopric. I am grateful to them for letting me use them as models.