Olive Trees and House Plants

 

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God's unfailing love for ever and ever. (Psalm 52:8, NIV)

Trees don't flourish in my house. Even simple house plants dehydrate and die from lack of care. I'm a lousy plant caretaker.

 

I'm so glad God is much more attentive than I. A flourishing olive tree in His house is healthy, its leaves green and its branches sturdy. It is nourished through roots that plunge deep into rich soil full of life-giving nutrients. It is refreshed by a constant supply of living water.

 

Why does God have olive trees in his house? Because He loves them! He likes taking care of them. He enjoys watching them grow and flourish. He especially likes it when others are blessed by His olive trees. A tree that is tall and strong and leafy provides shade and shelter to those who are suffering from life's scorching heat. It provides food for those who are hungry. It provides the oil of joy for those who have none. It provides encourgement to those whose fruit has not started to bloom yet.

 

Thank you, Lord, for making me like an olive tree in Your house. Let me grow strong so I will bless You and others you send to shelter beneath my branches.

 

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Virginia Smith, author of the Sister-to-Sister Series, celebrates the release of her eleventh novel, A Daughter's Legacy, a romance novel set in a zoo. Read about her books at www.VirginiaSmith.org

Comments

[Denise Spooner]

Virginia, I must let you know how much your blog entry blessed me and spoke to my soul.

The cry of my heart is to be nourished through roots..... God's roots, into deep and rich soil being His foundation, and to feed upon His life-giving nutrients refreshed by a never-ending water supply as you'd mentioned in your entry. WOW!

My passion is serving those who are hurt and are broken, blessing those that Christ died for and caring for the homeless (orphans) when no one else cares for them. I work with homeless teens and at risk youth and want to be that olive tree whose leaves are green and its branches sturdy. I also, am a writer of an inspirational nature thus my tagname being 'created2blessothers'. Housing homeless teens before has created in me a humble yet thankful heart before my Lord. We loved them, enjoyed caring for them, watched them grow spiritually and finally flourish on their own. Blessing others has been a mission of mine for many years. I never thought of it as providing shade from the scorching heat, until I moved back to Phoenix, AZ last February. Feeding the hungry, clothing the naked and encouraging others whose fruit has not yet ripened yields rewards far more than words can express so I had to write and thank you for posting here. These words are like a cool, refreshing breeze softly kissing my face and lifting my spirit to heights never fathomed before.

Thank you, thank you! :-)