Many moons ago, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Film Studies (with a minor in children’s literature) because I enjoyed reading and writing so much. From a teenager, I knew that I wanted to turn writing into a career, and I always took pride in the number of books, poems, and stories I had read.
So when my publisher posted an assignment to discuss life lessons learned from the Oak Tree poem, I was intrigued. I was intrigued because I somehow had never read it… it slipped under my radar. The Giving Tree, sure… but The Oak Tree, no. And so I did.
The Oak Tree was written by Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. It has inspired many people, including myself, with its words of encouragement and emphasis on resilience. The poem often appears on support group message boards, as it seems to resonate with those dealing with illness, adversity, and loss.
I had a tear in my eye after reading it for the first time yesterday… as my aunt passed away unexpectedly just last week and was one of the strongest people I knew. A cancer survivor and devout Catholic, she was filled with conviction – just like The Oak Tree.
The Oak Tree
A mighty wind blew night and day
It stole the oak tree's leaves away
Then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark
Until the oak was tired and stark
But still, the oak tree held its ground
While other trees fell all around
The weary wind gave up and spoke.
How can you still be standing Oak?
The oak tree said, I know that you
Can break each branch of mine in two
Carry every leaf away
Shake my limbs, and make me sway
But I have roots stretched in the earth
Growing stronger since my birth
You'll never touch them, for you see
They are the deepest part of me
Until today, I wasn't sure
Of just how much I could endure
But now I've found, with thanks to you
I'm stronger than I ever knew
Lessons Learned from The Oak Tree Poem
Like any piece of literature or poetry, The Oak Tree poem is open to interpretation. Rarely will two people take away the same message from what they read. Sure, there may be similarities, but each person will get what they want and need.
Much of the interpretation is driven by mindset. If our soul is craving guidance or inspiration—a sign, if you will—this will definitely impact the way we react to something we read… hear, or see. So, this is what I learned from The Oak Tree poem.
Lesson #1: Water Your Soul and Keep the Faith
The tree talks about its deep roots—roots of faith and wisdom. These roots are symbolic of the lessons we’ve all learned since childhood—life lessons about love and loss, healing and suffering, success and failure.
The roots grow stronger when we believe in ourselves and have faith in a better tomorrow. To “water” the soul means to engage in activities that strengthen the mind, improve mental clarity and boost self-esteem.
Mediation and mindfulness exercises, both designed to work our “mental core,” can help improve our mindset. We can also practice daily affirmations, pray, and utilize mantras. Self-care activities—such as massage, yoga, or hiking—can also have a powerful effect. Making time to ensure our physical and mental needs are met is key to being the best version of ourselves.
Lesson #2: Learn to Let Go of Things that Don’t Matter
The poem describes how the wind “stole the oak tree's leaves away… then snapped its boughs and pulled its bark.” Yet the tree held on, convinced it would survive.
The leaves, limbs, and bark were just things. Pieces that didn’t define who the Oak was or had any effect on its ability to stand.
As humans, we often crave things that we don’t necessarily need. We also tend to hang onto objects and ideas that won’t likely affect us significantly when it comes to fighting life’s battles—battles like disease, loss, anxiety, and fear.
For instance, if your idea of the perfect life is a wealthy spouse and a giant house… what happens when he loses his job? The income and house may be stripped away, but will that change who you are? Will it change the fact that you still have your health and a support system for family and friends? Or are you still educated and capable of finding a new way to generate income… an income that may not necessarily need to be what it was, but rather enough for what you need now?
The Oak realized that losing those “things” would not tear him apart, or break his spirit… but instead force the tree to be stronger and focus on what matters. Mental determination, clarity, and positivity can change your life’s course.
Lesson #3: You are Stronger than You Realize
Perhaps the most obvious lesson I, like most people, took away from The Oak Tree poem is that we all have the ability to pick ourselves up when we are down. Even if you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom, you haven’t.
Rock bottom is when you’ve lost all hope and the desire to fight. And it’s impossible to lose hope if you stay grounded in your values and tap into your physical and inner strengths. You are stronger than you realize!
We were all born fighters… and life has taught us to be resilient. The very moment you were taken from your mother’s womb, the doctor needed to hear you cry. A baby’s cry is proof that its lungs are functioning correctly and she can breathe on her own.
You were born fighting for air… and have been fighting ever since. Maybe your battle was learning to read as a child or having to help support the family when your dad passed away at a young age. Finding a good enough job to pay the bills, or with a bully that teased you mercilessly for years? Or maybe your battle was with cancer?
Conversely, if you are one of the lucky ones who believe your life has been a cakewalk up until now, I’d wager you still faced some challenges. You may not remember them because you overcame them.
All that matters is that you’re still standing. Every fight teaches us a lesson in resilience. It’s not about how big the fight is… but about how big of an effort you put into winning it!
Conquering even the most seemingly insignificant challenges can breed character. Mental and physical strength go hand in hand. If you believe you will be left standing in the end, your body will react and become capable of fighting.
Final Thoughts on The Oak Tree Poem
Johnny Ray Ryder Jr. has captured the demons we all face with his words of encouragement and sheer determination. He taps into the reader’s inner strength, confidence, and values to make them believe they can survive anything.
Life is not supposed to be easy… that is what makes it worth living. It would be best to take in all of it, embracing the good and evil. After all, suffering setbacks only to emerge from the shadows they cast over us, is the best way to appreciate how far we’ve come and what matters.
What matters is we’re still here to fight another day. There is no point in worrying about tomorrow because you can’t control tomorrow. You can control how you fight today for what you want and truly need from life. Happiness is within everyone’s reach if they stand firm on their journey towards it.
We’d love to hear what lessons you took away from The Oak Tree poem in the comments section below! For more tips on tapping into your inner strengths, check out this article on prayers for strength and comfort.
Get some more life lessons from powerful quotes, people, and ideas:
- Look for the Helpers: 4 Lessons from Mr. Rogers
- Chop Wood, Carry Water: 7 Important Life Lessons
- Death Smiles At Us All: 3 Lessons from This Quote?
Nicole Krause has been writing both personally and professionally for over 20 years. She holds a dual B.A. in English and Film Studies. Her work has appeared in some of the country’s top publications, major news outlets, online publications and blogs. As a happily married (and extremely busy) mother of four… her articles primarily focus on parenting, marriage, family, finance, organization and product reviews.
