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What Kind of Person Are You?

I said this in a play once as Madea... LOL. But I thought I'd revisit it as Tyler for those of you who may not have heard it :-)

I have this tree analogy when I think of people in my life, be it friends, family, acquaintances, employees, co-workers, whomever...They are all placed inside what I call my tree test. It goes like this:

LEAF PEOPLE
Some people come into your life and they are like leaves on a tree. They are only there for a season. You can't depend on them or count on them because they are weak and only there to give you shade. Like leaves, they are there to take what they need and as soon as it gets cold or a wind blows in your life they are gone. You can't be angry at them, it's just who they are.

BRANCH PEOPLE
There are some people who come into your life and they are like branches on a tree. They are stronger than leaves, but you have to be careful with them. They will stick around through most seasons, but if you go through a storm or two in your life it's possible that you could lose them. Most times they break away when it's tough. Although they are stronger than leaves, you have to test them out before you run out there and put all your weight on them. In most cases they can't handle too much weight. But again, you can't be mad with them, it's just who they are.

ROOT PEOPLE
If you can find some people in your life who are like the roots of a tree then you have found something special. Like the roots of a tree, they are hard to find because they are not trying to be seen. Their only job is to hold you up and help you live a strong and healthy life. If you thrive, they are happy. They stay low key and don't let the world know that they are there. And if you go through an awful storm they will hold you up. Their job is to hold you up, come what may, and to nourish you, feed you and water you.

Just as a tree has many limbs and many leaves, there are few roots. Look at your own life. How many leaves, branches and roots do you have? What are you in other people's lives?

THANK GOD FOR YOUR ROOTS! You may want to call them today or share this message with them and attach your own note saying, "thanks for being my root".

By the way, don't waste your time sending this to a leaf, they won't get it anyway.

Love you,

Tyler

by Tyler Perry on September 11, 2012.

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  • Root ground

    Tyler, "thanks for being my root". :)

    Reply
  • Brian T. Richardson A LITTLE BIT OF EVERY WHERE.......

    I HAVE A STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE TOLD........I AM NOT LOOKING FOR MONEY OR TRYING TO PULL A GET RICH QUICK SCAM......... YOU ON THE OTHER HAND CAN HELP ALOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN IN MY SITUATION OR WHO ARE STILL IN A SITUATION.......ALL I ASK?.......IS : HAVE SOMEONE CALL ME THAT HAS TIME TO LISTEN.........ILL EVEN SIGN PAPERS TO KEEP ME FROM GETTING ANY MONEY.......I JUST WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW....... MAINLY THE ONES WHO SAY THEY CARED ABOUT ME WHEN I KNEW THEY DIDNT FROM THE TINE I WAS 8 YEARS OLD.........PLEASE!!!!!!!I BEG YOU........

    Reply
  • Sheneith Hawkins Dallas,Tx.

    .................

    Reply
  • Pavani Pillay South Africa

    Amen....

    Reply
  • Stella Nairobi, Kenya

    I totally love this one. So insightful

    Reply
  • Temp Georgia

    Wow! This is a must keep, I can't wait until you write a devotional or another book. This is one of those sayings you keep next to your heart. It reminds me of a saying that God gave me, "Don't depend on people to lift you up, then they can't let you down". Thank you for sharing your gift of writing to the world. Love in Christ, Temp

    Reply
  • Gloria Osceola, AR

    Tyler I love this and find myself using this often in my own life. I know I am a root to my family and friends I make it a habit to do something positive for someone each and everyday of my life. t

    Reply
  • HD Uganda

    Hi Tyler in all your messages this is my favourite!!

    Reply
  • Aggie DC

    Right now I am a root to my love. Branches to my sisters. Roots to 1 brother, leaves to everyone else. I was a root to everyone, yet sometimes too many branches and leaves being fed by 1 root and the root itself is not fortified in return can kill it and it started to wither. So to sustain myself I had to reevaluate whom was important to maintain in order to retain my own life and health. It's not necessary to be a root for everyone so don't feel obligated to do so. Prioritize, minimize and trim. Stay a strong root, remember as my Mom always said, SELF PRESERVATION IS THE FIRST LAW OF NATURE.

    Reply
  • Shonda

    Now I know why I posted here; I'm not even subscribed, don't have twitter and I keep my facebook page very lean, and you aren't on any of them, but I was researching something, and your name popped up, and I was put on this page, and then, I came to this somehow, don't even know how I got to this particular post. But, I needed to see what you just wrote because I'm cleaning house in this department because some people are just parasitic to your well being. Thank you for writing this. This was just what I needed to see. God does lead you where you need the most from.

    Reply
  • Alishia Memphis,Tn

    I don't know where you are Mr. Perry as I sit in my living room in tears and type this....but let me just say this post brought tears to my eyes. My husband has just disappointed me and my family greatly and part of me feels as if I owe it to him to stay by his side and uplift him and another part of me says leave....basically I just found out that we are about to loose our home of 8 years. I feel so many mixed emotions because I was completely unaware of the situation until yesterday.....we've had marital issues for awhile like most marriages but I'm wondering will this be the straw that breaks the camels back. Is it my duty as his wife to stand by him through the storm??? I'm just tired.

    Reply
  • Junell marrero

    Inspirational and so true

    Reply
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