There’s just something about trees. When I was little, I loved the story my grandmommy told me of how a baby acorn grew into a robust oak tree. Many of my early memories stem from time spent at my childhood home surrounded by hearty woods, even in a suburban neighborhood setting. During treasured visits with my grandparents, I soared on the tire swing beneath a behemoth tree in the backyard of their modest, but meticulously cared for home and garden.
Forests provide shade and the vital source of oxygen. Trees paint such a beautiful backdrop in the world in which we live, and throughout my life, I’ve been drawn to their allure, foliage and variety.
Many trees need the brilliant glow of sun to thrive. But underneath the splendor, something vital is occurring that is unseen to the casual observer. Trees take root, and what they cling to and absorb can define the fullness of their existence.
As people, I think God is very much concerned with the roots we set up in our lives. I also believe He is cheering on the families we create, treasuring the memories and traditions we share and relationships we build within our communities.
There’s something about God’s promises that reveal a key nutrient we need in our lives…and we’ve sung it as amazing grace. Ephesians 2:8 (NIV) states, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”
We can’t “hustle” for it. We can’t “work our way to the top” for it. But, we can take root in it. It was given to us, freely, when Jesus chose to give His life for us.
Grace covers so much of what we need in this world that it can stand alone foundationally. However, I’m going to challenge you, and myself, to also plant some roots in grit.
And, no, I don’t mean the “grit” Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei discovered in the café in My Cousin Vinny. I’m a lifelong southerner, so I’m plenty familiar with the corn-based breakfast dish – or the even more delicious entree, shrimp atop cheddar grits. I mean, surely this dinner is on the menu in heaven.
What I think sometimes we need to encourage each other to take hold of is grit, defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “firmness of mind or spirit: unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger.”
Have I mastered the art of unyielding courage? Um, no. I’d say I’m quite the work in progress. However, throughout life, I’ve seen the value of pursuing life with a firmness of mind or spirit. I’ve admired this character quality and life choice in others and wanted a little bit more of it for myself.
When we can believe in God’s unwavering, all-encompassing grace and combine it with a solid resolve for our life path, these are some roots that can take hold. Matthew 7:17 (NIV) reminds us “every good tree bears good fruit.”
So, it is my prayer that however you landed here on this page, that we could come alongside each other on this journey. Together, I hope we can take intentional steps to dig a little deeper into the soil to enrich our lives, and therefore the lives of those around us, with a more nutrient-fortified life filled with vitamins grace & grit.
Rooted in Grace and Grit 
Allison, what a beautiful, clear perspective! Thank you for sharing with us. Your wisdom is very refreshing!
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Truly insightful and genuine. You a have a gift for telling your story in a way that everyone can relate to and find valuable insight into their own challenges.
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