A few years ago, my mom brought me a pawpaw tree seed she found on her walk. I planted it, and after a long, semi-patient wait, the seed sprouted and grew into a good, healthy little tree. But something happened along the way.

Each winter, it loses its leaves like so many other trees. At the end of each winter, it exhales the biggest new growth, saying its hellos. Except this year. This year, nothing.

All efforts pointed to no reason for hope. I sat it in the rain. I sat it in the sun. I poured nutrients into it (the good, stinky kind). The pawpaw tree stared back, blankly. 😶

Now and again, I whispered a two-word prayer. Please, God. Just as Tabitha Eutsler said in her latest post, there are bigger problems in the world than a tree with no leaves. But it’s my tree to look after. A little tree I care about.

A few weeks into spring, I noticed the tiniest speck of green. “Thank you, God,” I squealed in a whisper, except the green turned out to be a spider. Can one take back a thank you to our Creator? 🤔 It feels wrong to ask.

Days came and went. I checked once again. And for real this time, I saw growth. From the bottom of the tree. It wasn’t what I expected or hoped for. It wasn’t the normal way of doing things. The pawpaw tree wasn’t following the rules.

But it is growing. The Lord gave me leaves.

Brave Reader, I wonder what prayer you need to say to God right now. What small-but-mighty prayer? What important-only-to-you-and-God prayer? Whatever is on your heart, whether readily available or deep, down, hidden away inside, I urge you to lay aside the pride, believe the Lord cares for you and talk with Him.

I know because me too.

Sincerely,
Julie Johnson
editor-in-chief

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