Walking around the yard with the water hose is a regular pattern for me. Most of the yard gets water from the sprinkler system, but there are some areas that could use a little more TLC and an extra dousing of water.
That is what I was doing while I studied the Japanese Maple that got uprooted and replanted to the other side of the yard during our landscape project. She looked a bit lonely. Before, she was situated between several other types of shrubbery. She wasn’t noticed, but she seemed to be doing just fine tucked in that place.
Now she stands alone. The landscaper said she would do great in her new spot with plenty of room to develop and grow. She would enjoy the extra space, he said.
So as I was watering her, I wanted to tell her that I knew a little bit about being uprooted–physically, but also emotionally. There have been times I was perfectly content to stay among the familiar, to enjoy life as it just rocked along predictably, but God allowed abrupt changes. Traumatic changes even. I wanted to tell her that sometimes my new spot provides a lot of shade and not as much sun as I would prefer. I would tell her I don’t always appreciate the extra space. If I had some concrete hope to show this tree, I would have shown it. But the only thing I can offer is consistent water and a word of encouragement to just trust the process. Trust that the roots will find their way deep and strengthen over time. Trust that the sun she gets is the right amount and the shade provides purpose and protection. Trust that her new spot, no matter the trauma she endured to get there, would in the end be redemptive and good.
“Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:7
