Roots and Wings

“There are two lasting things we give our children, roots and wings.” -unknown 

Our oldest, our sweet beautiful girl who flutters into a space with a gentle graceful presence just turned eighteen in January. The one who was gifted to us in a time when grief and joy mingled and became almost one melody. My much loved father-in-law’s heart ceased beating while my daughter’s boomed steady and strong tucked under mine. Our hearts were breaking yet we had to find the courage and fortitude to keep moving onward. In the span of less than two months, we shockingly lost our dad and soon to be grandpa having to release him into the arms of Jesus while simultaneously welcoming with open arms our daughter who held the fresh scent of heaven. 

In this trying time, we had to cling to one another and to God, our roots learning to sway and bend and weather the storm. In the early years of parenting, our roots were forced to dig deeper into the soil of God’s unending love and day to day mercy. 

Time is an interesting thing, it seems to creep by in some seasons and fly by in others. All in all, time is fleeting and it is precious. In a matter of six years, our four oldest children will be adults and our little Hope will be a teenager. This season holds in it both grief and joy, converging into an achingly beautiful song. 

I feel that I am living in the delicate balance of remaining present and steadfast as our children go through the ebbs and flows and growing pains of childhood and early adulthood while also providing space and freedom for them to learn to spread their wings and prepare to fly. To allow each of them the opportunities to succeed and possibly even fail while also the assurance that we are here to love, support and encourage them no matter what comes their way. 

To mark the beginning of this new season, we have decided to plant a tree, a saucer magnolia. These magnolia trees are not evergreens like the familiar ones we see with white blooms in late Spring. They are instead deciduous, shedding their leaves in the Fall. At the first signs of Spring, this tree still winter bare proclaims its splendor with a punctuation of bright pink flowers as if a flight of butterflies or a flock of birds has perched on its branches. 

We will plant our small sapling opposite its dignified relative, our seventy plus year old rambling evergreen magnolia. A path to our home between the two trees and a front window view of the newest addition’s beautiful bright Spring blooms. Currently its tender root system can fit cupped in the palm of my hands. We will tend and protect this tiny treasure as it adapts to its surroundings and establishes a healthy root system. 

Audrey Hepburn was quoted with saying, “To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” A saucer magnolia is estimated to be at full height and breadth in about twenty years and I can imagine our family tree also growing in height and breadth. I can envision our future grandchildren growing up—playing, dancing, singing and reading under its branches. Sheltered by its shade and still awestruck by its Spring splendor.

My hope and prayer for you and for me, for my children and the generations to come is that like this new small sapling, our roots can become well established in God’s tender love and under His branches we may find shelter, solace and abundant joy. That even when the storms rage we can confidently trust that we are rooted and firmly held in His strong unfailing embrace. When life takes its toll, making us feel as if we are a caged bird who has forgotten their song, we can remember that we have been set free. Free to spread our wings and soar high on the current of our own God-given melodious song. 

“For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21 NIV

“but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

Isaiah 40:31 NIV