Growing a Zacchaeus Tree

Growing a Zacchaeus Tree

“And he was seeking to see who Jesus was….” Luke 19:3

We have become gardeners.  Nothing special, we just have red gloves with green turtles on them, a spade, and a little rake.  Every morning we go to the back yard and water our garden.  We must wear our gloves, because that makes it official garden business.  Eight feet stand around the raised garden while eight hands dig, pull weeds (sometimes two of those little baby hands pull up my cucumbers. . . arrrrrrrgggghhhh….), and water.  We talk about the day, talk about what we are going to cook with our vegetables, talk about who loves red pa-ta-toes (tomatoes) and who loves squishy squash.  Then, when we feel like we have covered all of the official gardening duties for the day, we take our gloves off and stand in a circle beside the garden.  After deciding who will go first and who will go last, we bow our heads and pray.  This is the best part of being gardeners.  I stand and watch as their little faces pray with the morning sun beaming on their cheeks.  They ask Jesus to grow their garden deep and BIG!  They ask for big red pa-ta-toes and for seeds that will grow.  They giggle and squirm and swing from side to side as they pray like they are playing red rover.  I pray, too. I pray while I watch their little lives grow in faith. 

We started the garden to have vegetables, but it has become so much more.  It has become a very tangible way for my children to see the Lord’s work.  They are watching as seeds are planted in good soil and grow into seedlings that eventually produce the food (fruit) for which they were created.. 

I also watch my very own garden grow.  These children that were brought forth from good soil are being watered with the word of God each morning at our kitchen table, fertilized with the Holy Spirit during each prayer time, stretched by faith and understanding, and raised to produce the fruit for which they were each created in the Kingdom of God.  I pray that the Lord will water them, stretch them, shine upon them, and prepare them to be worthy of the calling. 

Yesterday we stood at our garden, holding hands and smiling at a job well done.  Mattox turned to me and said, “We are growing a Zacchaeus tree!”  I laughed and asked her why she thought that.  “Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but he couldn’t, so the tree helped him.  He climbed it and it helped him see Jesus.  That’s our garden. It’s helping us to see Jesus just like the Zacchaeus tree!”  I held her hand a little tighter and smiled big.  Yes, we are growing a Zacchaues tree, and it is helping us to see Jesus. 

Mommies, remember that everything we do should be pointing those little feet to the path that will lead them to Jesus.  Grow a Zacchaeus tree every day in every way for your children.  Plant the seed early, grow deep roots, and pray that the Lord will make it grow reaaaaalllllly BIG and Strong! 

“And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he (Zacchaeus) is also a son of Abraham.  For the Son of Man came to SAVE the lost.”  Luke 19:9.