Day By Day/By Louise Duncan Day

In a recent article I listed regrets, and changes I would make if I were given the opportunity to live life over again.

1) I would talk less and listen more.

2) I would pray more and worry less

Then I wrote:

1) I sincerely regret, being rude to a man because his skin was black.

2) And I will always regret not planting a tree in Israel when I had the opportunity.

I cannot correct the past but in the future I am determined to talk less, listen more, worry less and pray more. I have matured enough to recognize that every person has worth in God's sight.

The song says, “Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world red, and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” And a regret of the past was brought to the present with a present.

The gift certificate reads:

Trees for the Holy Land Christmas Tree Forest. A matching pair of trees has been planted in the Holy Land in honor of Louise Duncan Day; Christmas, December 25, 2005. Planted by Rhonda, Gary and Allie Carroll

My first thoughts were, “two trees planted in my honor, how wonderful, what type tree and what did they look like?”

On their website we found this explanation to my unspoken questions: “Originally planted by God, were olives, pines, cypress, tamarisk, acacia and carob. These are the species of trees we are planting to replenish and nurture the land. Trees beautify the land, prevent soil erosion, reclaim the desert, improve the air quality and provide a home for living creatures.”

Our Jewish tour guide explained, “Returning Jews are changing the Land of the Bible from desert into dessert. Animals and birds can now survive in the land.”

Planting trees confirms your belief (faith) that there will be a future for our children, and that they will reap the peace of this generation's labors. PLANT MORE TREES - GIVE LIFE.

Louise Duncan Day, a guest columnist for The Daily News, can be contacted by e-mail at daybyday@netcommander.com