“But blessed are those who trust in the LORD
    and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
    with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
    or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
    and they never stop producing fruit.”
—Jeremiah 17:7-8 NLT

August was an amazing month for my husband, Ray, and for me. I say this with wonder because Ray was diagnosed in early June with terminal brain cancer—the worst kind. After the tumor was removed, he endured further complications, so June and July were not our favorite months by any stretch of the imagination. We did not hold out high expectations for August, either. And yet …

God, in His grace, gave us a quieter, less traumatic August. We found new patterns in our radically changed lives and saw His hand at work in many ways. Cards arrived, meals were brought, and rhythms were established as aides assisted with Ray’s care. So many served, gave, and sacrificed their time to help us. We were blessed with an abundance of kindness!

In addition, we have felt God’s Presence so strongly in the simple pleasure of sitting still—just the two of us—watching the trees grow. Almost every August evening found us on our deck, sipping decaf and quieting our souls for a bit. We have come to appreciate the peacefulness that slowing down for our after-dinner “sit” has brought us.

Our backyard is encircled by tall trees, green-leafed, lush, steady, and calm. The trees are home to a myriad of God’s creatures, from chipmunks and squirrels to many species of birds. When the wind ripples the leaves, the trees just calmly receive the rustle and continue to quietly grow. Their roots have gone deep, so even though New Hampshire is in a period of drought, the leaves remain green and full. The calmness and rootedness of these giants, who have grown for decades and withstood many a storm, calm us.

I highly recommend watching trees grow! It’s hard at first. The mind fights the feeling of unproductivity and hisses urgently, “The chores still need to be done!” Instead of rising from the deck in panic to accomplish tasks, one must whisper back, “This is not unproductive at all. We’re learning as we watch, breathe deeply, and calm ourselves. This respite will result in better work after the quieting is done.”

Another advantage of sitting quietly with a quiet man is that, out of that stillness and restfulness, he sometimes begins to talk and share deeply with me as he contemplates his own mortality and the homegoing to Heaven we have been told is coming sooner than expected. Those early August evening conversations have been rich, unhurried, and healing for both of us.

In the verse above, Jeremiah tells us we need to be like “trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water.” Like them, if we drink deeply from God’s Word and His Presence, slowing down enough to listen, when the winds come, our roots will hold. Let’s be the ones who receive blessing, because we’ve spent time with the God who made us—and His trees: “ … blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence”  (Jeremiah 17:7 NLT).

Thank You, Lord, for speaking to us in so many beautiful ways. You reveal Yourself through Your Word, through the gifts of Your people, and through the beauty of Your creation. Help us slow down enough to hear Your quiet, steady voice and to nestle in for a while, knowing that sitting and admiring all You have made is a sure way to grow more deeply in love with You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

You are loved,
Sharon

Sweet Selah Ministries

Vision
To inspire a movement away from the belief that “busy is better”
and toward the truth of God’s Word that stillness and knowing
Him matter most—and will be reflected in more effective work and service

Mission
To offer biblical resources and retreats that help women pause (Selah)
and love God more deeply as they know Him more intimately (Sweet)

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