"Someone’s sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."
- Warren Buffett, American businessman
A few years ago, while vacationing in a cabin for a few days with family and friends, I stole away to my room for a morning to read. Among the books I had packed was one written by Voddie Baucham, "Family Driven Faith," that had been calling my name from its place on the 'to read' shelf.
I was blessed as I read, but in particular I never forgot the point he made about parents working hard to bless generations with the knowledge of the Holy One, and in living out the Gospel. He illustrated it with an account of himself planting shade trees in their treeless yard, feeling a bit deflated that his hard work would not be enjoyed by himself when those little saplings were at last shade trees. But then he thought of how his children and grandchildren would enjoy the shade, and his effort was sweetened by the thought.
How many times in being a parent, aunt, uncle, or friend do we feel like the road is stretching out there in a great unknown and it looks both daunting and wearisome at times? Plant some shade for the little ones to enjoy!
It makes me think of a song we learned in school that has blessed me a lot in my adult years, as I toil and labor to share the Gospel with my family and friends.
"I OFTEN THINK OF THE DAYS SO SWIFTLY PASSING AWAY
THE ROAD TO HEAVEN SEEMS HARD TO FIND
BUT I'M DOING MY BEST TO REACH THAT HOME OF THE BLEST
AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.
THE ROAD TO HEAVEN IS STRAIGHT AND OH SO NARROW THE GATE
AROUND YOU TRIALS OF EVERY KIND
BUT IF WE CLEAN OUT THE SNARES THAT HINDER OUR PRAYERS
WE'LL MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.
I’M TRYING DAILY TO LIVE FOR OTHERS, SOMEHTING TO GIVE
MY BROTHERS, GROPING IN DARKNESS, BEHIND
I WANT TO HEAR THEM SOME DAY, IN GLORY, LOVINGLY SAY
YOU MADE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND.
CHORUS-
OH YES I'M WORKING THE ROAD, WORKING THE ROAD
HELPING THE WEAK AND BLIND
I WANT TO SMOOTH OUT THE ROAD THAT LEADS TO HEAVEN's ABODE
AND MAKE IT EASY FOR THOSE BEHIND."
As I was pondering this thing of making shade for others, I thought of different shades that could be considered...
*relationships that are focused on loving like Jesus loves; how many people today do not have this blessing? Families are wrecked by heartache as parents divorce or fight, children are neglected for computers and TV, and children grow up never having taken a walk with their parents, or heard their parents praying for and with them, nor sat and read or memorized the Bible with their family. Sharing simple conversation around a supper table every night is a rare thing in this generation. It is worth every ounce of effort it takes to prepare a nutritious meal, sit down with our family, and share in good, heart-warming conversation. Caring for the welfare of each one in the family is an important part of planting shade trees of relationship for our loved ones. It requires a death to ourselves and our hobbies, likes, etc sometimes to be able to accomplish this monumental task.
*walking in the simplicity that is in Christ Jesus. Sometimes we can get very battle weary as we are approached on many fronts by enemies of the Cross. Sometimes it can get very tempting to compromise and give in on some things because few stand with us. But doing that will wither the trees and provide little shade for those coming behind! Get out that shovel, dig the holes properly for the trees and mulch and water them well!
*doing things in a God-designed way can sometimes be hard to do when there are many around us who don't understand. This often comes as a result of ground lost along the way as people step further and further away from the design. Perhaps it is the understanding of different roles in the home, (mother or daughter, etc), or not despising children, or choosing to walk away from a gluttonous, idolatrous love of foods that sabatoge health. Many things can be said here, but if we each do our part in the area we have been given understanding, we are planting shade trees. Who knows where those coming behind will be able to go because they have shade to rest in along the way?!
*discipling the converts. Jesus' Great Commission was for us to go and preach the Gospel, teaching them to observe all things that He commanded. If we live that Gospel, and make it our mission to disciple those who come to repentant faith in the Son of God, then we are making shade for those coming behind. True discipling of others is too much a lost practice that needs to be restored and revived.
Plant some shade today!
A part of Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem
"A Psalm of Life"
often runs through my mind when I am weary of doing
and serving and being an example for others,
"Lives of great men all remind
us
We can make our lives
sublime,
And, departing, leave behind
us
Footprints on the sands of
time;
Footprints, that perhaps
another,
Sailing o’er life’s solemn
main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked
brother,
Seeing, shall take heart
again.
Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still
pursuing,
Learn to labor and to
wait."
"These things command and teach. Let no man despise thy youth;
but be thou an example of the believers,
in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Till I come,
give attendance
to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine."
1 Tim. 4:11-13
