One of the biggest perks of my time as a homeschool mama was getting the opportunity to relearn ALOT of things I missed growing up.
Science was one of my girls favorite subjects. They always had tons of questions. Those questions usually led to more questions and honestly that could go on for days. Sometimes I think I have the most inquisitive kids on the planet. But I digress...
One day, during science "class" we watched a video that answered the question: "Why do tress change colors and lose their leaves?"
We found out that most trees need one ingredient to help their leaves stay green, Chlorophyll which comes from sunlight. In fact, leaves are like little food factories, gathering and storing all the food (energy) that the tree needs to survive.
So, in the fall and winter months, as the temperature drops and we get less and less sunlight, the tree begins to transform. To our eyes the simple change from green to bright yellow, red and orange leaves is merely tradition, but for the tree it's survival.
In order for the tree to survive the often frigid temperatures and minimal sunlight of the season, it has to conserve its energy. Rather that continue to provide key nutrients to its leaves and risk dying, the tree sheds them instead to protect itself.
Sometimes its necessary to let go of some things in order to protect your most valuable parts. The tree doesn't worry that it's beautiful leaves won't grow back next season. The tree knows how critical it is to let them go so that it may thrive through the winter.
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