I was surprised and delighted a few weeks ago to fine a lone limb of bright red leaves on our otherwise green-leaved Japanese maple. It was strategically located on the tree right beside my daily walk as if Someone wanted to be sure I noticed it. I knew it meant something very special.

Charles and I, as newlyweds, were invited to be chaperones at a Baptist Student Union weekend retreat. It turned out to be a very memorable trip, not because of our chaperoning skills, or lack of, but because we learned a very sweet meaning of the red leaf.

I think it was one of the student leaders who told the group her interpretation of a red leaf. A red leaf, she explained, could be symbolic of the love of God, the blood of Jesus shed for us so that we could be reconciled to Him. But, she went on to say, a red leaf can also signify your love for one another. If someone lays a red leaf beside your plate, it means they love you.

Over the years, six decades, Charles and I at times would surreptitiously lay a red leaf on each other’s desk, beside the other’s chair, or just quietly slip it into the other’s hand on a walk. It was a fun way to say “I love you,” a special tiny ceremony that only we might understand.

So when I saw that limb of bright red leaves I could only think that Charles had requested God make it to comfort my lonely heart. It would be just like him to add such an extravagant touch, not just a red leaf but a whole branch of out-of-season red leaves. It was bright and beautiful for about a week, a startling flag of color in a maple tree clothed otherwise4 in its usual spring green with a few subtle burgundy tones. I took multiple pictures at different times of day trying to capture the exciting phenomenon.

You can try to explain it all away, explain to me why that particular limb was so bright. But you will not ruin it for me. I know what I saw and I know why it was there because I know for a surety that our God is compassionate and faithful. And I know what a red leaf means.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23