The Quiet Power
On the wisdom of living your truth instead of declaring it.
"An Oak Tree will never have to tell you it's an Oak Tree."
This life lesson was shared with us by Jillian Mari Harris from Trinidad and Tobago—a phrase her father told her as a teenager. At first, it seemed odd, even amusing. She recalls her younger self thinking, "If I’m in a field and an oak tree is talking to me, I have much bigger problems!" But the words stayed with her, lingering in the back of her mind.
Years later, during an argument with a classmate, the lesson clicked into place. Frustrated, he exclaimed, “Why don’t you trust me? I’m a Christian!” Without missing a beat, Jillian shot back, “You shouldn’t have to tell me that!” The argument ended there, not just because she stormed out, but because she realized something profound—his words and actions weren’t in alignment.
That was when she understood what her father had been teaching her all along. Words are easy, but truth is lived. A person’s character should be evident in how they show up in the world, not in what they insist about themselves. Strength does not need to be loud. Integrity does not seek an audience. A tree does not declare its nature—it grows, stands firm, provides shade, and weathers storms. Its presence alone tells the story.
Jillian’s father was teaching her how to listen beyond words, how to read between the lines, and how to recognize when someone’s actions don’t match their claims. It is a lesson in authenticity, in letting one’s truth be seen rather than said.
Because in the end, real trust, real kindness, and real wisdom do not need to be announced. They just are.
Keep growing,
Team FUEL
P.S.- If this resonated with you, let Jillian know by sending her a short love note here.