Uprooted

A little plant sits on her daughter’s windowsill. She’s amazed to see how much it’s flourished. It’s a hardly succulent, a little light, a little water and it’s not only growing, it’s reproducing. She counts four little plants that are growing individually in the same little pot.

            It’s well planted, well established, bearing fruit, multiplying. She thinks about those roots. They’ve taken time to go deep, they’re comfortable and very much at home.

            If she takes that plant, digs it out of the soil, she’ll see all those fine little roots and some big stronger ones. If she shakes it, the soil will fall away and those roots will be all exposed, vulnerable and tender. It will need gentle hands to hold those roots, to cover and protect them before they are to be planted again.

            She’s that plant. She’s being uprooted. She feels vulnerable and exposed. The soil of her life is being shaken as she prepares to be planted in her own land once more. Transplanted. It hurts.

            She knows the best gardener, whose hands cradle her now, covering her vulnerableness with His strength and purpose. She’s carried.

            Her sister in law is planning a new garden. She’ll be thinking about the trees and shrubs and flowers that will suit the landscape, the sun, the soil, the climate of the new place. She’ll ask questions about what plants they like, natives or a cottage garden, order or chaotic beauty, ornamental or fruit bearing trees. Her sister in law knows her plants and knows what will flourish and bear fruit. She’s amazing at creating beauty.

            The Gardener will carry her gently and plant in her own land, in the garden he has already designed and planned. He’ll know just where to put her, so those roots will grow down strong again and bear fruit, and chaotic beauty.

            ‘They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. I will plant Israel in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land I have given them.’ Amos 9:14-15