In April 2025’s General Conference, S. Mark Palmer gave a talk titled “Return Unto Me … That I May Heal You.” He opened with a story about a willow tree that fell over in a storm. The story itself was great, but what really resonated with me were the pictures.

The first picture was that of the willow tree after it had fallen over. Look at the branches and the leaves. This tree didn’t show any outward signs of it falling apart on the inside. It was beautiful and well cared for.

Granted, I’m not a tree expert so maybe there were signs, but the point is that the tree, on the outside was beautiful. But a storm hit and it fell.

We’ve all had storms in our lives. Some are worse than others and do more damage than is visible. And sometimes we have to be propped back up again; cut down to our bare spiritual bones, and just be cared for by people who truly love us.

That’s what I saw in this next picture. Someone who hit rock bottom but allowed their friends and family to replant their roots, care for them, minister to them, and believe in them.

They’re out there for the world to see. Raw, ugly, unfiltered, vulnerable, real. And they’re healing. Their roots are catching and are starting to feed those bare spiritual bones again. Their friends are loving on them. Their family is supporting them. Their ward is ministering to them. They are trying, really trying, and as ugly and raw as it may seem, they are winning.

For the tree, the regrowth took 12 years, but look at it!

For us, sometimes that growth takes weeks, months, years, or even decades. The point (at least for me) is that there’s beauty and grace in being the stump. The vulnerability counts and heals and strengthens. Allowing others to help us in our times of need feeds our roots, helps fortify our ground, and keeps us close to our Savior.

Don’t be afraid to be the stump. Sometimes that’s the best we’ve got.