Roots Before Fruit

This past spring, my husband and I planted a few young trees along our property line. We had tried, and failed, growing various types of trees in the years prior so we approached this attempt with intense determination. We spoke with an arborist about planting depth, read articles about watering times, and watched videos about which fertilizer would provide our new trees with the best nutrients to grow. Still, the first summer those trees were in the ground was unimpressive at best. We kept a very close eye on them and questioned almost weekly if they were going to survive. 

Isn’t that how it feels in parenting sometimes? You read the books, listen to the podcasts, dig into scripture, and gather wisdom from other parents. You compile all of the advice and develop a plan for how it would best fit into your home, and then put that plan into practice. But after weeks, months, or even years the hard work of discipleship is bearing little to no fruit. Your child is still stuck in an unhealthy behavior, your home still feels chaotic, you’re still correcting unkindness or grumbling or impatience. Will this ever get easier? Is this effort really worth it? 

It can be challenging not to give up on a tree that seems to be slowly withering away, but in the early years much of the growth is happening out of sight. Roots are trying to become established and, with the right care, those roots will bring the strength and support the tree needs to flourish. 

Don’t give up on the work of discipleship. Keep offering authentic connection and conversation. Keep leading by example and correcting in love. Keep pointing to Jesus. A healthy tree needs strong roots before it can bear fruit. 

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,

but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” Colossians 2:6-7

Janelle Kelly

Director of Project BestLife