Bible Reading: Psalm 23:4; Romans 5:1-5

"It looks like Dad's getting ready to mow the lawn," said Evelyn as she and her mother worked in the flower garden.

Mom nodded as she looked out across the lawn in front of their house. "It will be the first mowing of the year, and it's time--just look at all those dandelions!"

The yellow flowers had popped up everywhere. Evelyn thought they were pretty, but her parents appreciated their beauty more in the woods behind the house than on the front lawn.

Soon the mower roared to life. Evelyn and Mom watched as the dandelions began to disappear. When Dad was finished, the whole lawn looked green. "That looks much better," said Mom.

"For a lawn, I guess it does look better without the dandelions," said Evelyn. "But I still think they're pretty."

Mom smiled. "Well, just give them a little time, and they'll be back again. Dandelions have long, tough roots, and when they're nourished by sun and rain, the plant simply grows back after the top is cut off."

"I know," said Evelyn. "I remember pulling all kinds of weeds in the garden last year. Dad said we had to be sure to get the roots so the weeds wouldn't grow back. I remember wishing they didn't have such long roots!"

"You know," said Mom, looking at Evelyn, "as I watched Dad mow today, it occurred to me that we as Christians can sometimes feel cut down by things that happen in our lives--things that cause disappointment and sadness."

Evelyn sighed. "You mean like how I feel about Mia moving away?"

"I know it's hard not to be able to see your best friend every day," Mom said. "But if our roots are deeply planted in Jesus and the truth of His love for us, we'll receive nourishment and care from God. We can trust Him to be with us through our troubles and help us come out of them even stronger than we were before."

"So sometimes long, deep roots are a good thing." Evelyn grinned. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm kinda glad the dandelions have them too!"

–Dorothy R. King