God’s Palms 

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, 

Nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” 

Elementary wisdom from the sage Dr. Seuss 

taught me early in life to prevent earth’s misuse 

This Loraxian caution of Oncelers at work 

who prioritize riches at the cost of the earth 

Though these storybook characters live only in pages, 

they taught lessons in stewardship that have lasted me ages 

I knew truffula trees were made up for the book 

but in my childish mind, I always would look 

from the page to my landscape at the swaying palm trees 

and see real life truffulas in the gentle sea breeze 

And though truffulas came from the mind of an author 

I knew palms were designed by a Heavenly Father. 

On the California coast, there’s often a saying 

I’ve heard while observing the palms softly swaying; 

“Palm trees are clear evidence of a Father above 

Who crafted a tree that shows His perfect love.”

He’s already given us a grand ocean view 

with swirling foam whitecaps, and vast teal-green hues 

But the blessing of seeing the sea through the trees 

unimpeded by branches or bunches of leaves 

is just one more example of our Father’s care 

another gift we can thank Him for humbly in prayer. 

I’d imagine His hands, kneading in cosmic dough 

Rolling tightly so that when he placed them below, 

On the surface of earth but climbing into the skies 

these trees would be pleasing to a beachgoer’s eyes

Long and slim as a snake, yet upright like a pillar 

to ensure that the view could still be called “killer” 

He’d drop clusters of palm trees, careful with every width

to allow His chill children to hammock betwixt 

to look up while they rested, to bask and delight 

in a creation that points to His heavenly heights

A whimsical thought, which could surely be true 

As I’ve grown in my knowledge and age I’ve learned too…

That there are still deeper ways that these palm leaves and fronds

Stand tall as reminders of my covenant bonds 

God’s palms are before us in more than just one way

As a prophet reminded us on a former Palm Sunday

Jehovah declares in Isaiah 49 

That the palms of His hands are a permanent sign 

A token of sacrifice, a reminder forever 

That His death gives me life, and nothing can sever

the love of my Savior, Redeemer and friend 

who cares about trees, me, and each life that He sends 

There’s no waste in His plan, not one life that’s not needed

Just a gospel of stewardship, care that grows as we heed it. 

Every tree is a blessing, each one worthy of psalms But by far the most formative 

for me 

are God’s palms.

This poem by Eli Wright-Maloy was the second-place entry in our 2026 Every Good Tree writing contest.