A Tree Planted by the Water

 

They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.  It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.  It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. ~Jeremiah 17:8

I'm sure everyone is familiar with the springtime saying:  April showers bring May flowers.  Most of the time, that adage holds true for us here in northwestern Georgia.  But not this year.  We are, for all intents and purposes, in a drought.  Oh, sure, we might get a sprinkling of rain here and there as we leave April and enter into May, but when you have a lawn which mostly consists of moss, we have to take extra precautions if we want it to live and thrive through the hot summer months.

Danny makes elaborate plans to keep our moss hydrated and healthy while we wait and pray for rain.  He already has two sprinklers, but needs more for this job; he orders a couple of them along with additional hoses.  Since we only have two outdoor faucets, Danny also buys splitters so that two hoses can be attached to the same spigot.  His best strategic move, in my opinion, is to purchase timers that tell each hose when to release the water to the correct sprinkler, and for how long.  Ingenious!

Do they work?  Of course!

When you look closely at this photo, you can see a rainbow!

Even in our shady yard, moss can't survive intense heat and lack of moisture as its root system is both shallow and fragile.  Just seeing it transform to a lush green after a good soaking brings us such joy.

The same is true for us spiritually.  If we don't make the concerted effort to spend time in God's Word drinking deeply of its sustenance, we, too, can become dry and parched in our faith.  I've always loved the image of the tree planted by the water as described by the prophet, Jeremiah.  In my mind's eye, I envision a willow tree, its boughs cascading leaves of green, its roots black with moisture.  So verdant!  So lush!

And isn't that the way our faith in the Lord should be?  Filled to the brim with the abundant life that Jesus promises to all who believe in Him?

May we all resolve to plant our roots deeply into the Living Water.  Jesus is the well that never runs dry.

Amen!