The Tree Nobody Watered

There was a very old tree in the village. It wasn't particularly beautiful in spring, nor did it bear many fruits in summer. Whenever villagers passed by, they would say: "This tree is probably on its last legs." Only one old man would sit by the tree for a while every day as he passed. Someone asked him: "What's the point of you coming to see it every day?" The old man smiled and said: "I don't know either." "It's just that it used to shield me from the sun when I needed shade the most." Later, the old man grew old and could no longer come every day. The tree remained standing quietly in its place. Then one summer, the village experienced a very long drought. Other trees gradually withered and turned yellow, but the old tree, which everyone thought was "on its last legs," still sprouted new leaves. It turned out its roots had already dug very deep. It wasn't that it hadn't grown, it's just that those growths had always been hidden underground. Many times, we are just like that. If others don't see your efforts, they assume you're not progressing. If things don't yield immediate results, you assume you're standing still. But some growth isn't meant to be displayed. The deeper the roots, the less you need to rush to prove you're growing. One day, when the wind and rain truly come, you'll find that: Those unseen efforts have long since become the strength that supports you. 🌳