Willow Trust.

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Dodger:  Hello again!  How's life treating you?

Lilly:  We're glad you came by today.  We were just reading a book on trees for school.  There's one tree we think is really interesting in here.  Check it out!

Dodger:  Here's the picture:

Lilly:  It's the golden weeping willow.  Have you ever seen one?  I do see willows sometimes, but the golden teary-eyed kind aren't very common where I live.  Anyways, we were looking at how their leaves extend so close to the ground.  They almost look like vines, with all the branches hanging about the way they do.  When the wind blows it's really easy to see, easier than it would be with a regular tree.  Of course, they aren't the only willows that do this, but it was the first willow we've read about.

Dodger:  One of the neat things about willows is that they have strong roots.  The other day I was walking through a garden and I noticed a willow had poked its root right under the sidewalk and broken up the concrete.  That's a lot of power when you consider that trees don't even perceptibly move.  What's funny is that the leaves look really weak.  All it takes is the slightest gust and they float every which way.

Lilly:  Hey, something just occurred to me.  Have you ever thought that God might be like a willow tree?

Dodger:  Um...no.  Why?

Lilly:  Well, think of it this way.  Jesus said that He is the vine and we are the branches, right?

Dodger:  Yep.  That's John 15:5.  I don't really see what that has to do with willows, though.

Lilly:  Well, part of what Jesus was saying was that we need to remain connected to Him.

Dodger:  Okay.

Lilly:  So what about this:  Jesus is like a willow tree, and we are like willow branches.  Jesus is strongly rooted.  Nothing can pull Him up, because He is God.  The branches, when the wind comes, may feel like they are being blown about all over the place, but the truth is that they are still connected to the willow tree, which is actually taking care of their needs by providing nutrients and keeping them from flying away.  We sometimes see storms coming our way, and we ask God where He is in the middle of them, but the truth is that while we reach out to Him He is holding onto us!  He's not going anywhere, and He'll make sure that when the wind passes, we are still safe in His arms.

Dodger:  Wow.  That's actually a pretty neat analogy.

Lilly:  There's a lot to be said for the examples God gives us in nature.  When the wind blows, God isn't distant.  We just feel blown about, that's all.  He's right there, loving us like He always does.

Dodger:  Thanks for pointing that out, Lilly.  That's pretty cool.

Lilly:  God is good.  That's all I can say.

Dodger:  I guess we'd better call it.  Thanks for stopping by.  Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!

Lilly:  Bye!





(Image credit: "Salix alba Morton" by Bruce Marlin - Own work: http://www.cirrusimage.com/tree_golden_weeping_willow.htm. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salix_alba_Morton.jpg#/media/File:Salix_alba_Morton.jpg)  Thanks, Bruce!

Talent Palette?

Dodger:  Do-dee, dee-do-da!  Da, da, di-di-dee!  Hmmm...not quite right....oh!  Hi there!  Sorry, I didn't see you at first.  I'm working on a song, but I'm having some trouble making it go like I want it to.  Anyways, how've you been?  Lilly is grabbing a snack before she gets here, so it will take a second.  I'm working on a tune for a Bible Quizzing Program.  It's a lot of fun.  We get together and try to compete on who can best memorize and recite a book, or maybe several books, from the new testament.  It's not quite working out, though...

Lilly:  Hey there!  Ah, Dodger!  Are you still working on that song?

Dodger:  I'm trying.  See, it almost works, but then it doesn't.  You'd think it be easy, since I'm basing it on another song, but it won't come out right.  I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

Lilly:  I'm sure you're right.  Hey, at least you can write music.  I'm no good at it at all.  I kind of wish I was though.  Writing songs for a Bible-related activity sounds like such a great opportunity to glorify God.  French fry?

Dodger:  Thanks.  Um, you know, you don't have to write songs for God to be glorifying Him.

Lilly:  I know.  There are other ministry related things I could do, like volunteer or go to a VBS or something.  Thing is, though, that those are all just things.  You actually have a talent you can use built in.

Dodger:  I guess...

Lilly:  It'd be really neat to be able to have a talent in glorifying God.

Dodger:  Hold up.

Lilly:  What?

Dodger:  You DO have a talent in glorifying God, Lilly.

Lilly:  Not really.

Dodger:  Oh?  Well, you're plenty good at making friends.

Lilly:  I hope so, but that doesn't have anything to do with serving God.

Dodger:  Are you sure?  Last time I checked it was really helpful to have a relationship with a person in order to tell them Who Jesus is.  That means you have a natural talent in being able to help people meet Jesus.

Lilly:  Um, okay...

Dodger:  Furthermore, you're really good at putting together videos.

Lilly:  I don't write them.

Dodger:  No, but you edit and produce them and make them look nice.

Lilly:  So?

Dodger:  Sooooo, you can make a difference in people's lives when they see your videos.  Amazing as it may sound, you actually glorify God in exercising your talent.

Lilly:  Come again?

Dodger:  What I mean is, the simple use of the abilities God has given you can be an expression of thanks and joy!  Just by doing something well, you can glorify God.

Lilly:  Anything?

Dodger:  Well, okay, not everything.  For example, you can't rob a bank because you're good at it and say that glorifies God.  But the simple use of your talent in a way that cheers people up or even makes you happy?  Not only is nothing wrong with that, but it actually brings God glory to see His kid do something He made him or her good at doing.   In Colossians it says "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.  But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality. (3:23-35 NKJV)  A simple use of your natural talent doesn't have to be Christian-y to glorify God.  He's already glorified when you do the things He gave you the ability to do well.  So I write songs.  Some of them are just goofy.  Others are about the Bible, but they all in their own way can glorify God.  Imagination can glorify God.  It depends on how you use it, to be sure, but it doesn't always have to be a Church thing.  God can be glorified by the stories you write, the games you play, the books you read, the songs you sing, the math problems you solve...in fact, the possibilities are endless!

Lilly:  Wow.  I hadn't considered that, at least, not in a while.  Thank you, Dodger, for the reminder.  You're good at those.

Dodger:  Thanks.  It's a gift, literally.  Well, looks like we've gotta dash again.  Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!

Lilly:  Bye!