February and March are that time of year when spring fever kicks in. We want to plant something, but it’s too early to start the garden.

God has a remedy for that. Winter is the perfect time for planting trees, whether fruit or nut!

So, plant the tree.

We put 3 apple trees in the ground this winter. We have put nearly 2 dozen trees in the ground since moving here in 2019. One of my children commented that we would never want to move away from here because we’ve planted so many fruit/nut trees. I replied that we planted fruit trees at our first home 20+ years ago and our second home 15+ years, only to move before ever seeing the fruits of our labor.

Earthly homes are temporary dwelling places, in more ways than one – this world is not our home, we’re just passing through. We are strangers and pilgrims on our journey heavenward. We are captives in a foreign land. But, we plant trees anyway. Why? Because, the Lord says to embrace LIFE, no matter the circumstances or location.

Jeremiah 29:
4 Thus saith the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, unto all that are carried away captives, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem unto Babylon; 5 Build ye houses, and dwell in them; and plant gardens, and eat the fruit of them; 6 Take ye wives, and beget sons and daughters; and take wives for your sons, and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; that ye may be increased there, and not diminished.

We don’t plant trees (or, do anything of importance) only because *we* will be rewarded. We do it because it’s the right thing to do, here and now. Maybe, someday, someone will be blessed by our efforts. We don’t know, but God knows. We have to live satisfied in the planting of seeds/trees while trusting the Lord with the increase.

“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” – Robert Louis Stevenson

So, plant the tree. Because we should live each day as though it’s our last AND as though we have another 50 years ahead – with faith AND hope.