I don’t see a lot of commercials on TV, but through years I’ve always been fond of this one. I have many memories of walking or running outside with loved ones, reciting this girl’s line – “Watch out for my rooo-ooots!”

We all have roots; whether they are shallow or growing deep, whether they’re dry and bitter or healthy and absorbing nutrients.

As excited as I was for my word bloom in 2019, I was a bit hesitant to share it at first. “Bloom” is such a visible word. My two previous words, breathe and held, definitely seemed more personal, more behind-the-scenes.

But God. He has graciously been speaking to me about roots, knowing full well that I would need the reminder to come back to the dirty work of root-tending as part of the process of blooming. There is a continuing work that must take place in my root system – in my heart, in my soul – in order for blooming to occur.

In my current season, as part of my journey with God, I am becoming more disciplined in reading. I’m leaning into learning about God, and also myself. A dear friend recently gave me a box that says “bloom where you’re planted” – and it conveniently fits all my daily reads. It’s perfect – my own book box.

Today is my calendar-scheduled day to post a blog (#ThoughtfulThursday), and I usually start the day with a thought to write about. Not today. So I started reading through my stack of books this morning, and watched Him bring “roots” to the surface.

From The Daily Bible… Deuteronomy 29:18 – “Make sure there is no man or woman, clan or tribe among you today whose heart turns away from the Lord our God to go and worship the gods of those nations; make sure there is no root among you that produces such bitter poison.” There’s a connection between our hearts turning from the Lord and a bitter root having the right conditions to grow deep. When we stray from our First Love, it affects our roots as well as the fruit we bear. We need to be planted in Him, in His house, near His heart.

Day 2 of 40 Days of Decrease by Alicia Britt Chole had this tucked away about roots: “Roots are, historically, perhaps the most humble of God’s creation on earth. They require neither acknowledgement nor praise. Their reward is reaped when the living stand upon them and reach for the fruit the roots made possible.” I love this! Roots are humble, happy to stay underground, surrounded by darkness; but they are also vital to bringing life to the world above.

Today’s chapter in Disciplines of The Beautiful Woman by Anne Ortlund was all about the growing life. “The importance of the invisible! This is true of any life as well. If all of our life is visible to others, from the time we get up in the morning until we fall into bed at night, then we’ll be as unsteady as a ship with no keel. Indeed, the more of us is invisible, hidden from the world in quiet, in study, in planning, and in prayer, the more effective our visible life will be.” We need to tend to our invisible life, our relationship with God – it directly correlates to our visible life.

This reminded me of Sara Hagerty’s book Unseen, specifically chapter 4 which speaks of roots sinking deep. “Our growing root system reaches and creeps and drinks, deeply, of a greatness that the world can’t measure, a greatness that even some within the Christian community might not recognize or understand. But the long-term greatness of a tree is always found in the depth and health of its roots.” Our roots are in need of our attention, for depth and health and growth. “Our growth in Him can happen at any venue and in any season of life. Whether or not our tasks, our careers, our families seem to be successful at the time. And the times that God hides us, sometimes away from success or applauding hands, are often the times when our roots reach deeper into the earth. We grow, down.”

I think sometimes we have rogue roots that split through the ground and make themselves known, as in the commercial and the picture above. These are the roots we have to watch out for when we walk or run, because they’re out of place – they’re meant to be in the dirt. Under the surface. Below the earth.

It’s here, in our hidden moments with God, in the unseen places, where our roots have the conditions and ability to grow, and go, deep.

I looked through quotes and verses I’ve journaled since January and found these…

• “When our focus is on our unseen root systems, the seeming mess above is less disconcerting.” – Alicia Britt Chole
• “I’ll be the branches if You’ll be the root…” – from the song God Be by Chris Renzema
• “Abiding is a journey of growing spiritual roots deep down so that you can do more than just survive; you can thrive.” – Pinterest photo, from http://www.moretobe.com
• “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” – Jeremiah 17:8
• My coloring page below from Flourish by Margaret Feinberg (“Rooted in Trust”)

It turns out this theme of roots has been louder in my heart and mind these past two months than I originally thought. Today must have been the day to share it with you.

As we are rooted and established in love, I pray that we grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Jesus. The love that surpasses knowledge, the love that changes lives, the love that points us back to the Father. The love that makes our roots grow even deeper in Him.