I Want to Be an Oak by a Spring

Friends, family and co-workers are asking me, "What is your thing with drawing trees and roots lately?"  If I'm doodling-which I do all the time-it involves a tree.

These trees are an intimate picture of my prayer to God.

 

A beautiful oak tree stood outside the window of one of the places we lived in when we had our babies.  Everyday I would stand at the window in the early morning or sit under it watching the boys play in the afternoon and pray that God would make me that oak.  

That my roots would go down deep and that I would be a consistent and contented Mom.

Because I felt like a little shaking transplant holding on for dear life.  My bark was torn and scarred, my leaves were dry and curled and the branches were in odd formations.  I was bent and broken and wounded.

  I had little boys standing at the trunk and I just prayed and prayed that I would be strong enough.

I began to pray Psalms 1 that I would be like a tree planted by streams of water...whose leaf would not wither and whatever I did would prosper.  

Then my middle son became really sick and we spent 10 days at a hospital in Denver testing.  On "slow" days we would go and explore.  

One day we found a christian art gallery and I was in awe of the pieces.  One is burned into my mind.  A giant painting on rough wood planks with a stream of water flowing out of Jesus's wounds and springing up around Him and watering the plantings beside Him.  If you see that painting...please tell me as I would love to see it again.

I want His life springing up in me.  To have him clean out the muck, mire, sand filled streams so that He is constantly moving within my life.  "Spring up oh Well within my soul.  Spring up oh Well and make me whole.  Spring up Oh Well and give to me that life abundantly."  

Plant my me by your streams of living water so that I can  be a shelter in the storm for weary travelers.  So that children can climb in my branches and birds will sing their praises.  Plant me by streams of water so that when MY boys are near they feel your strength and your movement and be drawn to you.  Plant me by streams of Your Living Water so that I will not dry up and wither but that you would restore my youth.