🌳 Renew: You're a tree.

Lessons from little league, May reading guide, prayers + prompts.

“You’re a tree!” my son shouts to the batter.

Hovering over home plate, his little brother plants his feet and straightens his stance.

He swings and sends a ball flying through left field.

It’s no small thing to be a tree.

When writing Every Season Sacred, I traded the symphony of children for the sound of crickets and cicadas to take a 48-hour writing retreat. When I couldn’t manage one more word, I decided to lace up my sneakers and, at the last minute, sign up for a guided forest hike.

Our guide asked us to imagine ourselves as “something that lived within the land” we were hiking through. I was a bit out of my comfort zone, but I tried to be present – which is what I encourage my kids to do when they’re trying something new.

As I walked the path, I reflected on a giant tree near my cabin, aptly named Grandmother Oak, which I had seen earlier in the day. Her limbs danced in all directions.

Deeply rooted, she had weathered years of life.

Season after season, she stood tall, embodying strength, elegance, power, and purpose.

She lived through mid-winter blizzards and summer thunderstorms, danced in spring’s breeze, and became ablaze in the fall.

As we walked, I wondered if I was at all like Grandmother Oak.

As we walked, I was reminded of a quote from Katherine May's book, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. She writes, 'Life meanders like a path through the woods, we have seasons when we flourish and seasons when the leaves fall from us, revealing our bare bones. Given time, they grow again.' 

As we crunched through the trail, I reflected on my grandmothers and all my ancestors who had come before me. What legacies did they leave? What would I pass on to my children? I marveled at a fallen log, its many bands showing years of life. I saw a young sapling protected by fencing, given parameters, so it might grow someday.

As parents, we are trees.

We watch our children grow, yet we, too, continue to add rings, becoming deeply rooted and established in love. Just as trees provide so much for us — warmth in the winter’s roaring fire and cool shade on the summer’s hottest days — we, too, provide for our children's needs. We purify the air of their worries and give shelter to their dreams.

We provide the paper on which our children’s stories are written. 

Your role is significant, your love is powerful, and your influence will endure through generations.

You’re a tree replanted in Eden,
    bearing fresh fruit every month,
Never dropping a leaf,
    always in blossom.

Psalm 1:3b, The Message

You are a tree.

Stand a little taller this week.

And keep growing.

Photo by Rob Wicks on Unsplash

May Reading Guide

Each month, I’ve been putting together a simple reading guide for Every Season Sacred and To Light Their Way.

Each week, you’ll find exactly what small, timely chapter or prayer to turn to, complete with dates and page numbers.

Reading Plan May

537KB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Keep it on your phone or print it out and pin it up by your desk or hang it on your fridge.

Austin, anyone?

I’ll be in Austin, Texas, on May 20-21, speaking at a wonderful church with a group of moms who have been reading through my books. I can’t wait! I’ll have a little downtime, so if your church, bookstore, or group would like me to visit, send me a message!

This spring, I’ve had some special opportunities this spring to travel and speak. If you’re looking for a late summer or fall event speaker, workshop leader, or panelist, fill out the form at the bottom of this page!

Yours for this Week

Keep reading for:

• intentional breath prayers

• curated playlist for renewal & new beginnings

• Scripture

• reflection prompts

• weekly phone wallpaper/lockscreen

• benediction