We were fortunate to be able to go on vacation this summer. Before we left, I canceled the newspaper, asked my neighbor to grab the mail, and my husband got special food for the fish. I called a cab, and off we went to the airport.
After ten days, we returned, and I saw that I didn’t think of everything after all. It had been abnormally hot when we were gone, and no rain. Our outside plants were withered into a tangled mess. Absolute carnage.
I was really sad. We had planted early, and watered almost daily before leaving. Ugh.
I know that I can’t control the weather (big shock!). But it wasn’t only the heat that was an issue. It was probably the constant watering too.
Because of the sprinkling we did, the flowers didn’t grow deep roots. They didn’t need to tunnel down to create a taproot. All the nourishment was on the surface.
When we were gone, the heat came and stayed. Without that daily soaking, the shallow roots just gave out and dried up. The plant couldn’t survive.
This whole experience got me thinking. How I can grow deep roots myself? How can I prepare to flourish in the ‘extreme weather’ of life?
I think it comes down to preparation and choices. Do I thirst for a constant trickle of compliments, pleasure, or awards? That ‘watering’ is just a mist. Choosing that, I’ll be thirsty all the time.
Who can live on mist?
Waking each day, I’d be so thirsty! Off I go, searching for a drop of praise, or a new and better place to eat lunch. Grabbing a new assignment, I’ll drive myself crazy trying to get noticed.
If I don’t get these things? I’m going to feel like a failure. I’m going to just shrivel up and die.
Instead of looking for my rewards in earthly things, which
make me shallow and do not feed, I need to find a deeper source of nourishment. I know I will find that source in the Lord.
In order to find my place in him, I’ll have to sink my roots
deeply, passing the topsoil of earthly rewards. That’s hard work.
There are rocks, old roots and occasional sprays of mist. It seems like I could make a home here? Nah. I know it’s too
shallow.
I have to continue past the surface to the deeper soil. Then I’ll be with the Word, the Life, and the Spirit of Christ. That’s where the real nourishment is. There is rich soil to spread out my roots and take hold.
When the hot weather comes, I won’t even notice. My roots are protected and fed, held deeply in my Father’s hands.
People with deep roots don’t fail in adversity. They don’t even notice the storm. They are upright, strong and prepared.
Father, that’s my goal. Help me reach out past the surface, to your infinite strength. Together, I know I’ll be strong too.
Linking today with: Bible Love Notes
Linking today with: Bible Love Notes
Nicely written! Shallow roots are definitely a detriment and Jesus definitely addresses this in the Gospels. Thanks so much for the reminder and the encouragement to dig deeper. Sorry about your plants but praise God for the faith lesson!
Hi Natalie! Oh I know, I was so shocked. Some of the plants came back, but most were goners.
We are all encouraged to bypass the earthly for the heavenly, you are right about that. Easy to say, hard to do, at least for me. I can use the reminders.
Thank you for coming here today. It’s nice to see your smiling face!
Ceil
Love this Ceil; as we let our roots go deep and build strong faith our growth becomes strength for others, and we become a brighter light for those around us. Love your quote, “People with deep roots don’t fail in adversity. They don’t even notice the storm. They are upright, strong and prepared.” Amen!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Denise
Hi Denise! I like the way your turn it out too, from deep roots to being a strength for others. Nice!
The deeper the roots, the stronger the faith…and the other way around too I think! I pray that we will all be upright and strong.
Blessings to you, my friend
Ceil
Ceil, I feel as if all of your posts talk directly to me. You truly have a gift and I am so glad to visit here each day. Have a great weekend.
Hi Kathleen! I am so glad you can relate to what’s here. I sure do love seeing you, and appreciate your warm comments. Wasn’t it a great day when we found each other? God is so good to us.
You’ve made my day
I will have a good weekend, and you have one too!
Ceil
I’m with my dear friend Kathleen…your posts are water for my soul!
Thanks, my friend. : )
Hi Billie Jo! Thank you so much for your support and encouragement, you are such a lovely blog-friend. And it’s so fun that you used the term ‘water for my soul’, as I wrote about watering gardens. Lovely!
Have a blessed weekend, my dear friend,
Ceil
Beautifully said and an analogy that I am going to remember each time I water my plants. This has really blessed me this morning.
Hi Garden Lady! Oh my, this really was a perfect analogy for you today, wasn’t it? Kind of like how Jesus would talk about sheep. The people could relate!
You have no idea how much it means to me that you were blessed by being here. Thank you for telling me that
Have a wonderful Friday!
Ceil
What an excellent post! I think that for a lot of my life I lived too close to the surface. And the past couple of years that the Lord has been working with me to grow deeper with Him.
God bless, Lisa :O)
Hi Lisa! Wow, the Lord is really in your life in a big way these days, huh? That’s so wonderful! Although I know that sometimes its not all sunshine, but he is always there for comfort and support.
Blessings on the growing of your root system! May your strength come from him!
Happy Friday
Ceil
I love this post. You write with such an understanding of the basics that it makes it clear to me ~ not a gardener ~ able to relate to the essentials of “taproots” and “plant growth” and apply the example to my Christian walk!
p.s. The graphic of the tree with roots is perfect! ~Pamelyn
Hi Pamelyn! Thank you so much for your kind comment! I try to be clear, and it’s nice that you can relate to the plant metaphors.
I looked all over for that image, thanks! Not easy to find. I really appreciate your noticing that
Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you for coming over today, and making a comment too.
Ceil
Hi Ceil,
I just wrote a note here but it disappeared (I might have “signed out” instead of “publishing”? I’m encouraged by your story on the flowers needing Water qua our lives needing God and His Spirit in our daily journey … We need to strenghten the roots and also the keep on being nourished at the same time!
Blessings to your weekend,
Nina
Hi Nina! Oh, I’m sorry that happened to you. I’ve done that too, and I am familiar with that frustration. Thank you for typing a comment out again!
You got the point exactly, Nina. The real, lasting food is deep down in the hands of the Lord. Not the easy stuff on the top/world. That doesn’t really satisfy. I am so glad you could relate. I pray that I’ll always want to go deeper every day.
Have a blessed weekend, my friend!
Ceil
This is so very true, especially in those times where God calls us to do or say unpopular or hard things for His glory. When we’re deeply rooted with God, we have the foundation we need to stay strong and not crumble when we’re called to do something difficult or go against the crowd. You know what they say, “You can keep some of the people happy some of the the time; but you can’t keep all of the people happy all of the time.” Understanding this and having proper motives for our actions and ministry makes all the difference in the world.
Hi Anne! Wonderful additions to the theme. It sure is easy to go along with the crowd…much better to have those deep roots that will keep us with the Lord.
We have to decide to make God happy, then everything else will flow well from there. Love it!
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, I really appreciate that.
Happy Weekend, Anne!
Ceil
Your post made me think of two things: the parable of the sower and the time I spend with the Lord. I spend too much trickle time with Him and not enough deep watering time.
Hi Elizabeth! I totally can see that. Like the seed that is thrown on bad ground…no roots. Perfect! Great insight, thanks!
I also can settle for that ‘trickle time’. I love that phrase. I also need to spend more time with the Lord, to be drenched in his grace.
Really great thoughts, Elizabeth. Thank you
I love that!
Ceil
Love and hugs from your deep-rooted cyber-friend
Do you want to know what breaks up the fallow ground that won’t let the garden grow? Laughter. Cackles, snorts, and bellyaching laughter. I learned that this week
Bless you Ceil!
Hi Nan! So happy to have a deep-rooted friend
I could learn a lot from you. I think laughter and joy really does unlock us, and helps to connect to love. Great point!
Thank you for sharing what you learned this week. If we lived closer, I’d say, “Lets go out for dinner and work on our snorts!”
What a perfect evening that would be!
Happy, joyful weekend, my friend,
Ceil
I love the way you tell of everyday life and connect it to the spititual yearnings I have in my life. I thank God for the true gift He has given you and the encouragement you share. I too want those deeper roots, and the nourishment only He can provide.
Hi Peggy! I’m glad you like that, because that’s kind of been my theme. I really do want to find God in everything I do. You are so kind in your comments, Peggy. Bless you for the encouragement you are to me. It’s priceless! How fun that God brought us together
Let’s get working on those roots together. We can cheer each other on!
Happy Weekend my friend!
Ceil
You insight is so good…i enjoy reading your posts
Hi Dee! Oh, thank you so much, I am so happy that you like what you read here. It’s so kind of you to offer me encouragement. We can all use an affirmation now and again, that’s for sure.
I thank you for being so faithful in coming here and leaving such positive notes. You are such a cherished blog-friend!
Have a wonderful weekend, Dee
Ceil
When I first became a Christian I reveled in the all that I was learning and experiencing. But after years of being a Christian everything began to feel stale. So lately I have been trying very hard to be faithful to reading my Bible, praying, and reconnecting with Jesus–in other words, putting down deeper roots. I don’t want to wither and die spiritually!
Great analogy. Loved this post.
Hi Pam! Thank you for sharing some of your spiritual journey. It really speaks to your ‘adult’ status in the Lord. Recognizing that you needed renewal, and ready to make that happen. I know the Lord just loves you for that!
I am trying to be better in putting down roots too. It’s not always easy, is it? But we are trying, and that’s what matters.
So nice to see you here today Pam
Ceil
What a wonderful illustration and reminder, Ceil. Reminds me of Ephesians 3:17. My prayer and hope is for deep roots in Christ!
Hi Jean! I had to look up your Scripture reference, but yes, I agree. ‘Rooted and established in love’. Oh my, how I would love to claim that. I’ll have to keep praying just like you that my roots will go deeper and deeper into the knowledge and love of him.
Thank you for visiting today!
Ceil
I love it when the Lord puts just the right thing in front of you at just the appropriate time. I needed to her those words. Thank you
Hi Debby! Wow, really? I just love it when the Lord uses us, even if we don’t realize it at the time. Thank you for your lovely comment. I am so happy that this helped you in some way.
Thank you so much for coming over and visiting today. It’s so nice to get to know you a little bit. I am so glad that we know each other through our blogs.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ceil
Wow, wow, WOW! Dear Ceil, how is it you always know just what I need to read?! To be honest, I’ve never really thought about having deep roots in my life, but I want exactly that: deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. Thank you for this teaching and the words you shared for I will hold them close to my heart and, Lord-willing, live by them. May the Lord richly bless you, friend.
Much love!
Hi Stephanie! Nice new photo, my dear!
I am so glad that you liked the post, and it was helpful for you too. Isn’t it amazing how God works?
I hope I can live, striving for those deep roots too, Stephanie. It’s not easy for me by a long shot. But I’ll keep trying
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ceil
This is wonderful–very good analogy on life.
Hi MM! I am so happy that you could make it over here today. Your blog is always hoppin’!
Thank you for your kind comment, and I’m glad you liked what you read today. I always come away from your blog with something to smile about. Thank you for that
Have a wonderful weekend!
Ceil
Ceil, you always share the most wonderful posts that speak to my spirit. I didn’t have deep roots prior to my past year of trials and difficulties. I can now say though that my roots are deeper and getting stronger every day.
Praise God!
Wishing you a blessed weekend.
xoxo
Hi Jennifer! Oh, thank you for your lovely comment! I am sorry for your hard times, but at least you know they had a purpose. What a witness you can be (and am to me) that your experiences have brought you closer to him. Beautiful!
Gotta love deep roots
I pray you will have a great weekend too, my friend,
Ceil
Good Morning Ceil,
Have a great weekend dear friend!!
I do like this idea so much, because as we know from growing trees that it is always about the root system. We live in a world that has so many bad effects to our branches that will make the fruit vulnerable. But if the root can survive, there is always next years fruit
Blessings Always, Roxy
Hi Roxy! You grow trees? How interesting! Then for sure you know a healthy root system means a healthy plant. Great thought on this theme, thank you, I love it
And it’s good support to know that if it doesn’t work out the first time, God always is ready for me to try again. Yay!
Happy Weekend, Roxy!
Ceil
Thanks for the encouragement and a reminder where we can be feed and nourished. To focus on God than the praise of men. It is all that matters. If we seek him first, then everything will be added unto us.
Have a nice weekend.
Hi Joy! So true! I love that, I could have included that in the post. “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness…” Thank you!
It’s hard to break that ‘praise habit’ and trying to excel all the time, but I’m willing to try. And that makes all the difference.
Thanks for coming over today! Have a wonderful Sunday
Ceil
Dear Ceil
I have found that the more I suffer in this life, the deeper my roots grow into the ground of Jesus’ life. I think the only way our roots will truly reach out to Jesus, is when everything we can see or rely on on this life is taken away.
Much love, dear friend XX
Mia
Hi Mia! I know that there are a lot of theologians who would agree with you, Mia. In distress, we really have to tunnel deeply to find rest and help in the Lord. It’s like we’re forced to do it.
That is the one saving grace in adversity. We look so much like the Lord then. I know you are going through a lot with your fibro, and it has made you so close to him. Thank you for sharing that!
Blessings to you, my blog-friend!
Ceil
Ceil – This is so, so good! I’m with you. Praying for deeper roots. Blessings!
Hi Angel! I’m so glad you like what you read here. I will join you always in a prayer for deeper roots. I know we’ll get there with that desire, and the Lord’s grace.
Happy Weekend!
Ceil
Thanks Ceil..sure needed this. Been struggling with some things this past week..and when I come here, I get put back on track. (if that makes any sense). Thank you. Blessings
Hi Linda! I am so sorry for your struggles this week? I hope they are resolving at least a little bit.
Of course you are making sense! Sometimes one little word from someone else can just lift up, I’m so honored that I was yours today. God is so good to bring us good blog-friends who care, and want to share in burdens. I know we can be that for each other.
Aren’t we the most blessed of all? Praying for your peace, Linda, and hoping we will continue to inspire each other,
Ceil
I like this part the best. People with deep roots don’t fail in adversity. Our roots that remain in the water of the word will always produce stability and growth.
Hi Mary Jane! Thank you for coming over today!
Yes, I really like that too, it’s so true. I think we all know people who are just ‘unflappable.’ They are so close to the Lord, because they know he’ll take care of it all. I want to be like that someday.
Hope I see you again sometime!
Ceil
You really have a talent for taking every-day things and finding a spiritual application. You’re so right about the need to sink our spiritual roots deeply. With the strange (translate that “idiotic”) things going on in the world today, I’m finding that to be essential.
Hi Linda! Thank you for your generous comment. That is what my goal is…to link everything to God.
Our world always seems to be in a big mess, doesn’t it? It does point out the need for personal holiness. Then we can spread the joy!
Happy Weekend
Ceil
What a thought provoking post, Ceil. I love the way you take the every day things in life and apply spiritual lessons to them because it makes it so easy for your readers to relate. I want to be like the one with strong roots so that I don’t ever go down when there is a trial. It’s my goal, even though I don’t always make it. Bless you, Ceil, for the way the Lord speaks to hearts through you, His instrument.
Hi Dianna! Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I am trying to do just that in my life, and then on the blog.
I join you in wanting those deep roots! We’ll work on it together, because I don’t make it past all the distractions all the time either.
Thank you for your blessings Dianna. I am so happy that we are blog-friends. We can encourage each other! I am so grateful for your visits and comments too.
Have a great Sunday, my friend.
Ceil
I see I’ve found a kindred spirit – in many ways, Ceil! You’ve expressed my desire/goal so well in this post. I look forward to continued friendship via blogging
Hi Rebecca! It was so nice to find your blog. Thank you for coming on over to visit me too.
I’m so happy you like what you see here! I liked your blog too, and am now a ‘follower’ of yours. It will be great to get to know each other better
Happy Sunday!
Ceil
wise thoughts well stated, let me grow deeper in You, Lord God
Hi HFF! Thank you for your kind words. And I join you in your prayer to grow deeper in him.
Blessings!
Ceil
Beautifully Put Ceil! =)
Hi Natalie! Thank you so much! I’m so glad you like what you read here today.
Have a good Monday
Ceil
God is definitely using you to share spiritual wisdom.
Hi Dee! You have no idea how much your comment means to me. Thank you so much. To think that God is using me is such an awesome thought. You really lifted me up today. I am so grateful for your blog-friendship
Ceil