Trees that Flourish

When we first purchased our home 26 years ago, on the property were multiple trees: a pie cherry, a bing cherry, an apple tree with 5 types of apples, an apricot, an Italian plum, and an English walnut. We added two pear trees, a peach tree, another English walnut, an oak, and a maple. Some are no longer standing having succumbed to disease or age. But others have survived.

One of the survivors, the red leaf oak, was purchased through a catalog. It came as a stick about four feet or so long. We were promised that if we followed the directions, it would become the tree pictured in the catalog. So, we planted it in the front yard, watered it and cared for it as directed.

 

It remained a "stick" that first year. But, we didn't give up. After much waiting, a leaf appeared and then another, although it hardly grew a perceptible inch.

 

After a few years, it started growing leaps and bounds. It's still not a huge tree, unlike the maple next to it. But, it is a beautiful tree with blossoms in the springtime and acorns—and red leaves—in the fall.

 

During those months and years of waiting, lots was happening we couldn't see. The roots beneath the ground were establishing themselves. They became a solid foundation from which the tree could grow and flourish. When it had just the right support, that's exactly what happened.

 

Our children are like that oak tree—promises of future growth and maturity.

 

We follow the directions to care for them as provided by the One Who gave them to us. We love and nurture our children.

 

And we pray for them. As limited human beings, we give our children through our prayers what only God can give. Only He can take a stick and turn it into a tree that flourishes with life.

 

So we pray—

 

"Lord Jesus Christ, please make Your home in _____’s heart as s/he trusts in You. May her/his roots grow down into Your love and keep her/him strong." From Ephesians 3:17 (NLT)

 

"Lord, may You make _____ be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever s/he does shall prosper." From Psalm 1:3 (NKJV)

 

"Lord, may _____ shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit." From Jeremiah 17:7-8 (NKJV)

 

"Lord, may _____ not trust in her/his riches and fall, but may s/he choose righteousness and flourish like a green leaf." From Proverbs 11:28 (ESV)

 

The prophet Isaiah wrote that the Lord's promise to those who receive the Good News is that He would "… give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified." 61:3 ESV

 

That's powerfully turning a stick into a robust and beautiful flourishing tree!