Putting Down Roots

We planted a garden the other day.

Well, we planted a sort-of garden. It's a few pots out on our patio. But since a 20-square foot patio is more of a yard than we've ever had, I'm working with what we've got.

Lyla LOVED watching me plant and get my hands dirty. She played in the dirt too, which I thought was fun and cute. We're working in the yard together! She's learning patience and a good work ethic! I thought proudly. I took her picture. I told her that if we were patient and gave the plants plenty of water, we'd be eating strawberries and tomatoes and cucumbers in no time.

That was at about 2 p.m. At about 5:30, Lyla left the dinner table and disappeared.

We thought she was in her room but I couldn't find her there. I checked Nora's room, our room, the bathrooms ... nothing. At about the time I started to panic I found her on the deck, a fistful of dirt in one hand and a cucumber plant in the other. She looked proud, like Look, mom! I'm planting a garden like you!

I can just feel a parable coming on. Can't you?

In the days since the cucumbers met their fate, I've been trying (mostly unsuccessfully) to nurse them back to health. Because she pulled them up at the roots, it's been slow going.

She also nearly loved the tomato plant to death, though with less fervor. She left the plant itself alone, choosing instead to methodically remove every leaf and other sign of life. The roots remained intact.

I left the plants in the sun, watered them daily, loved them and kept the door to the patio locked. And wouldn't you know it? The tomato plant sprouted three new leaves yesterday.

I guess roots are more important than branches. Branches are persuadable. Roots control growth, gather food and water and give life the the plant. Roots replace damaged leaves.

Sometimes trying to teach these little girls how to have faith in Christ is like growing that tomato plant. It's hard to see results immediately, and I never know if what I'm doing is actually settling in.

But yesterday, when Lyla pointed to a painting in our house and said, "Jesus," then folded her arms reverently, I realized I might be getting through to her. A small sign of success, like those little leaves.

I know as she grows there will be hard times. The wind will blow and people will come along that will damage her branches and pull off her leaves. But for now, I'll keep putting down roots. That way, I hope, those leaves will always, always grow back.