“They are like tree planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.”
-Psalm 1: 3 – expanded reading Psalm 1
Back-to-school season always feels like an act of trust to me. We pack backpacks, find the right shoes, fill out forms, sooooo many forms, take the pictures, and then send our kids through the doors of their schools and into the care of other people. And what a gift those people are. Over the years, I have watched incredible teachers learn who my kids are, not just how they do on a test, but what makes them laugh, where they struggle, when they need encouragement, and what helps them grow. Day after day, teachers plant seeds we may not see the results of for years.
Psalm 1 describes a person rooted in God as being “like trees planted by streams of water,” growing and bearing fruit in season. I love that image, especially as another school year begins. Because growth takes time. Kids don’t walk into school one morning and come home having figured everything out. Neither do we. Faith grows that way too. We hear God’s Word. We gather in worship. Someone reminds us that we are loved. We pray even when we aren’t sure what to say. We receive grace again and again. Slowly, roots grow deeper. And sometimes we get to be the people who help tend those roots for someone else, a teacher, parent, grandparent, friend, neighbor, or church family surrounding someone with love. We may not always see the growth happening. But God is at work in all of it, nurturing, tending, and helping us grow.
Prayer: God, root us deeply in your love, and bless all who teach, encourage, and help us grow. Give us patience to trust that you are at work in every season. Amen.
Written by Pastor Sarah