I Saw a Tree ... a Strong Young Tree (Psalm 1)

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I have been amazed over the past almost four years at what has been my most popular blog post on A Branch in the Vine. Day after day, there are visits to this post, most likely hastily shared one day back in February 2014. But I love these thoughts, because they are based in God's word, and they take me back to a time when I was a brand new mama, wanting God's best for my sweet little son and then later, my darling daughter. And nothing has changed except they are grown with children of their own ... and I have grown older and, by God's grace, deeper in Him.

So since fall Bible studies are starting afresh, I decided to share this as a current post. May you be blessed, as I always am, to revisit where God has taken me and is still taking me as I journey on with Him. Amen.

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[First posted in February 2014]

Back in the late 1970's, my husband John was a junior high youth pastor at McLean Bible Church in McLean, VA.  During that time, the junior high kids turned us on to Evie Tornquist's uplifting music.  Often when "our kids" would meet at our house, the Evie albums would come out of their covers (yes, they were LP's in those days). Our son Jeremy was a toddler at that time.  So before our Bible studies would begin, he would entertain all of us by dancing to "Step Into the Sunshine" or another of Evie's upbeat songs.  And even during our at-home times together, Jeremy and I would dance and sing along with Evie's simple, yet spiritual music.

A few years ago, I tried to find what had been my favorite Evie song, but to no avail, until...

My friend Kitty just "randomly" shared that she had been looking for a song about trees and found one by "someone named Evie."  Eureka!  My song!

So here it is...simply titled, "The Tree Song."  But first why I like it...

This song makes me think of Psalm 1 and how I long for my precious son and darling daughter to grow like the sturdy tree that sinks its roots deep...deep into our Lord God and His holy Word.  And I also long for this for my amazing grandchildren.

So with a prayer to that end...and the Psalm...and the treasure of a song!  Thank you, Evie...and thank you, my friend Kitty!

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Psalm 1 NLT

Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, 
or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, 
meditating on it day and night.

They are like trees planted along the riverbank, 
bearing fruit each season. 
Their leaves never wither, 
and they prosper in all they do.

But not the wicked! 
They are like worthless chaff, scattered by the wind.
They will be condemned at the time of judgment. 
Sinners will have no place among the godly.

For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, 
but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

 

Tree Song by Evie Tornquist

I saw a tree by a riverside
One day as I walked along
Straight as an arrow and pointing to the sky
Growing tall and strong
How do you grow so tall and strong?
I said to the riverside tree
This is the song that my tree friend sang to me.

I've got roots growing down to the water
I've got leaves growing up to the sunshine
And the fruit that I bear is a sign of life in me
I am shade from the hot summer sun-down
I am nest for the birds of the heaven
I'm becoming what the Lord of trees has meant me to be
A strong young tree.

I saw a tree in the city streets
Where buildings block the sun
Green and lovely
I could see It gave joy to everyone
How do you grow in the city streets? 
I said to the downtown tree
This is the song that my tree friend sang to me.

I've got roots growing down to the water
I've got leaves growing up to the sunshine
And the fruit that I bear is a sign of life in me
I am shade from the hot summer sun-down
I am nest for the birds of the heaven
I'm becoming what the Lord of trees has meant me to be
A strong young tree.