“To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3

Isaiah was a prophet, a man of God, from the Old Testament. He has some beautiful poetry, not rhyming poetry (at least not when written in English), but he describes some beautiful images. In the verse above Isaiah compares us, the people of God, to trees that are planted by the Lord. And as God’s trees, we try to do things that make God look wonderful to others.

Think about a tree. What words come to your mind to describe a tree? Strong, tall, beautiful, leafy, full of fruit? Trees need care and lots of different things to grow; water, fertilizer, sunlight, trimming and pruning. I like the “picture” of God as our gardener and we are His planted and cared for trees.

God Is Our Gardener

God plants us where He wants, and He knows we will belong.

God waters us with blessings so that we grow steady and strong.

 

God feeds us with His words from the Bible, so that we grow wise.

God shines His light on us, so that we reach for the skies.

 

God showers us with love, so our roots will be thick and deep.

God lets the shadow and darkness come to give us rest and sleep.

 

God trims us with words for living well, so that we keep on growing.

God prunes us with gifts and talents, so that our fruit is glowing.

 

God takes care of us and stays close and loves us without fuss.

When people see us, God’s planted trees of faith, then they see God in us!

 

 

This week think about how God is your gardener and takes care of you and your family. Draw a picture to show how God has taken care of you.

 

Afterwards ask your parents to share your picture by email or Facebook messenger so that everyone can see God as our gardener who takes care of us.