PLANTING TREES

Have you ever heard a song that so captured the cry of your heart, you wondered whether the songwriter had had access to the very depths of you--every thought and desire?

Last week my friend Briahnna sent me these lyrics:

She rises up as morning breaks,

she moves among these rooms alone, before we wake

And her heart is so full, it overflows

She waters us with love, and the children grow.

So many years from now, long after we are gone,

These trees will spread their branches out and bless someone.

So sink in to all that matters, step out into the light

Let go of all that's passing, lift up the least of these

lean into something lasting...

Planting trees.

I am overcome when I think of the message behind these words, because this is our blessed calling! For every wife and mother out there (or mother in waiting), this is a gift from God to get to be up before our families, sneaking into their rooms to lay a hand on them to pray for things that will happen to them not just 20 minutes from now but also 20 years from now, storing up the Word of God in our own hearts so we have truth and wisdom to impart to them, declaring over them "You are more than a conqueror because Jesus loves you!" so they know who they are in Him, insisting on our children's pleases and thank yous and reminding them to pray for friends, supporting a husband's call to serve others...we are so blessed to get to do every last one of these things and more!

Because it doesn't just stop with your family or with mine. It's about who we'll reach through them, both outside our homes and into the nations, and the generations to come. We are building into little ones we'll never meet, providing a heritage for those to come. God allows us to be in on these very things--how awesome and good of Him to use us to accomplish His purposes.

I am overwhelmed when I think of the women I know who are all about "planting trees." So many women come to mind. I am challenged and encouraged by you in many different ways. I love you and pray today that the LORD strengthens your hands to just keep on planting trees, that they may grow up and their branches will reach someone.

*Thanks to Briahnna, a fellow tree-planter, for sending me these lyrics that captured my heart this week ("Planting Trees" by Andrew Peterson).

One generation will tell the next generation of Your works, they will declare Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty and will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works and will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

Psalm 145:4-7 * A prayer to be prayed over our children