Frost Cracks

Dear Readers,

Sometimes, when there is a rapid temperature drop, the wood fibers in a tree contract, which can redistribute stress and lead to a crack. This is known as a “frost crack.”

Frost cracks are often simply on the surface, but they can extend deep into the wood and also affect the branches.

Just like wood, we too can crack. When our heart touches ice, its coldness can feel shattering.

Its chill rings all the way to our fingertips and we may feel a shiver inside.

This crack can freeze us, making us feel stuck like we can’t move forward.

Our feet dragging in ice as if our heart tells us to stay put.

However, trees usually recover from frost cracks on their own as new growth eventually covers the split over time. People can help trees heal as well by trimming the wound to create a clean edge.

Our cracks too need time to heal.

One day, the crack rings through our body and we feel chilled to the touch, almost to a point of numbness. Like we can’t feel anything at all.

The next day, the sun seems to shine a little brighter and we feel some warmth again. We let the heat soak into our skin and bring us back to life.

And for brief moments of glory, we begin to feel alive again.

That is the reality of healing; it isn’t linear.

It takes time.

It’s important to allow space for this time as it is a process and if wounds are not healed properly, they can simply re-open and deepen later.

But the beauty of healing is that as time progresses, our chill begins to diminish more and more.

We can sense the recovery down to our bones as we begin to feel stronger, warmer, and freer inside.

We can breathe again. We can see clearly again. We can feel again.

The snow melts and our feet can run again as we’re no longer trapped in ice.

Life becomes even more enriched because we learned the power of growing through a split.

Healing may take time, but it is possible. With proper support, effort, and care, we flourish even more on the other side of our break.

Love,
Samantha