lent devotion - trees

​Trees
By Joyce Turnbaugh

I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who makes things grow. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

I think that I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the sweet earth’s flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day,
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with the rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree. 
                                - Joyce Kilmer, 1886-1918

This was my mother’s favorite poem and it was written in 1913, the same year she was born. I was named after the author, Joyce Kilmer. I have always loved trees, flowers, and other plants. 

Have you ever wondered how it is possible to plant a small brown seed into dull brown soil and have bright orange carrots, or vibrant yellow sunflowers emerge? I can prepare the soil and provide the water necessary, but only God can make the seeds grow and infuse the plants with all the colors of the rainbow!

Planting our humble little seeds of faith, kindness, and God’s love works very much the same way. When our beloved Savior, who gave his all for us, takes over from there, just stand back and watch them grow! 

Heavenly Father, give me grace to plant seeds of faith, kindness, and love in your world and give me humility and patience as I trust you to bring those seeds to life. Amen