2026 10 11 欅（けやき）

 

教会の幼稚園園庭の、真ん中に立つ大きな木。

子どもたちを見守るように、枝を大きく広げています。

この木は、欅（ケヤキ）Zelkova serrata　ニレ科ケヤキ属の落葉高木です。

春には新しい葉を広げ、夏には豊かな緑の木陰をつくり、秋が深まると葉を黄色や赤褐色に染め、やがてたくさんの葉を地面に落とします。

毎年、秋になると、子どもたちが落ち葉を集めます。

集めた葉っぱは、みんなが大好きな「落ち葉プール」に変身！

ふかふかの落ち葉に飛び込んだり、葉っぱを舞い上げたり。園庭の真ん中の欅は、秋の恵みを子どもたちに届けてくれる、楽しい遊び場にもなっています。

実はこの欅、5年ほど前に、枝葉の約3分の1を剪定したことがありました。いつも見慣れていた姿が変わり、少し寂しく感じたこともありましたが、年月とともに枝葉は再び伸び、今ではまた、美しい樹形が戻ってきました。

木もまた、変化を経ながら、少しずつその姿を取り戻していくのですね。

先日行われた運動会でも、子どもたちは元気いっぱいに走り、自分だけの技にも取り組みました。そして、みんなで聖書の言葉を暗唱する姿もありました。

子どもたちの一生懸命な姿と、心に響く聖句の言葉。ご家族や先生方、たくさんの方々に見守られながら、みんなで喜びを分かち合う、恵まれた運動会となりました。

園庭の真ん中に立つ欅も、そんな子どもたちの成長を、ここに植えられた時からずっと寄り添い生きています。

春に芽吹き、夏に葉を茂らせ、秋には葉を落とす。毎年同じように季節を重ねる欅の姿は、目には見えなくても、一人ひとりを支え、成長へと導いてくださる神様の恵みを思い起こさせてくれるのではないでしょうか。

「わたしはぶどうの木、あなたがたはその枝である。」（ヨハネによる福音書 15章5節）

「その枝」の子どもたちも神様につながり、愛に支えられながら、それぞれの歩みを豊かに育んでいくことができますように。

A magnificent tree stands at the very center of the kindergarten playground on the church .

With its broad, spreading branches, it seems to watch over the children as they play.

This tree is a Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata), a deciduous tree in the elm family (Ulmaceae).

In spring, it unfurls fresh new leaves. In summer, its lush green canopy provides welcome shade. As autumn deepens, the leaves turn shades of yellow and reddish brown before eventually falling to the ground.

Every autumn, the children gather the fallen leaves.

And what do they become? A wonderful “leaf pool” that the children love!

They jump into the soft, fluffy leaves and toss them into the air. The zelkova at the heart of the playground becomes a special place where the children can enjoy the gifts of autumn.

About five years ago, roughly one-third of the tree’s branches and foliage were pruned. Its familiar shape changed, and it was a little sad to see it looking so different. But over the years, new branches and leaves have grown back, and its beautiful form has gradually returned.

Trees, too, find their way back to their former beauty, little by little, through times of change.

At the kindergarten’s recent sports day, the children ran with all their might and eagerly took part in activities that allowed each of them to show their own special skills. They also recited words from the Bible together.

Watching the children give their very best and hearing the Bible verses spoken aloud was deeply moving. Surrounded by the love and support of their families, teachers, and many others, everyone shared in the joy of a truly blessed sports day.

The zelkova standing at the center of the playground has been growing alongside the children, sharing their journey ever since it was planted here.

Each year, it follows the same gentle rhythm: budding in spring, spreading its leafy canopy in summer, and shedding its leaves in autumn. As we watch this tree move through the seasons, perhaps we are reminded of God's grace, which sustains each one of us and guides us as we grow, even when we cannot see it.

“I am the vine; you are the branches.” (John 15:5)

May these children, too, remain connected to God, the source of their life, growing in love and being nurtured by His grace as each follows their own unique path.