Every morning I was renewed though. Air and light healed me over and over. I got to where I depended on it. When I was feeling my worst I would step out into the yard and put my hands on the branches of the little redbud. It made me feel like I was saying a prayer to do this. I know that sounds like foolishness but that little tree was like an altar for me. I stood there in the cold of early winter wishing for the redbud to bear leaves so that I might put my face against them.