This morning I watched as the sun came up over the corner of our property, and remembered the day we planted the tree which sits in that same corner.

It was the first summer we had bought our house – 28 years ago now. Our yard seemed huge to this Bronx girl who had been raised with cement underneath her feet.

Our neighbor handed the kids, what seemed like a twig with a few leaves and even less roots, and informed me it was a maple sapling. It had sprung up in between his bushes. The kids were excited at the idea of planting it.

We picked the farthest corner in our yard and dug a hole, loosened the soil, and planted it. Our first time planting a tree together.

We never could have known then how it would have grown. It is now a beautiful tree – standing tall and having filled out nicely. It has since claimed the entire corner as its home. Its shape is perfect. In the summer, its leaves are green and glossy, and reflect the sun. In the fall, those same leaves are glorious in color, boasting of the wonders of God.

The tree reminds me to be faithful. To grow where I am planted. Not to despise small beginnings.

“He told them another parable. The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the larges of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31-32, NIV).

The commentary in my Bible stirs this thought:

Seemingly small and insignificant beginnings
can end with glorious consummation.

“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” (Ephesians 3:17, NLT)

May our lives be like a mustard seed, or the little sapling,
staying rooted, and growing steadily.