Rooted in Jesus…A Science Experiment

We were midway through a science experiment. Three bright little faces leaned over the glass jars filled with celery and dark blue food coloring. It was 3:40 pm and I was desperately trying to wrap up the kids’ school after a long day.

I was mentally calculating how long it would take for frozen chicken to bake in the oven, and whether I could squeeze in a nap between supper and my online class when it happened.

One minute, my four-year-old was stepping off the chair. The next, her foot slipped, and she smashed her nose into the counter.

Now I am no stranger to blood.

In fact, two days ago, this same four-year-old rode her bike into the briar patch, emerging scratched and bleeding, while the five-year-old busted his lip open on the swing set. (This is also the same day I sat in a lawn chair and it ripped, dumping me into the grass, but that’s beside the point)

But after a long day, this felt like the straw that broke the camel’s back. I grabbed a dishtowel and held it to her nose while she screamed until finally the bleeding stopped. Then she wandered away, towel draped over her arm and I looked around for my other  two mini-scientists. Surprisingly, they were still at the counter, shoving each other, giggling, and swirling the blue water with a celery stick.

I took a deep breath, texted my husband for prayer over the chaos, and dove back in.

I re-opened the science book to the correct page, and this is what I read.

“Roots help plants grow by taking in nutrients that feed the rest of the plant. But did you know that the Bible also talks about roots? In Colossians 2:6-7 it says, ‘So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.’ We need to stay rooted in Jesus as we grow, just like these plants take in nutrients through their roots.”

I felt as though the Lord gently shook me, and said, “Wake up! Listen to what you’re reading!”

Two days ago, the kids and I had discussed how roots absorb nutrients, but also stabilize the plant. We went out in the field behind our house and compared the two-inch deep roots of the weeds to the roots of the fifty-foot oak tree, then discussed how that depth makes a difference when the wind blows, or a storm comes.

Did you know that the wind blows a lot at my house? Maybe it isn’t a full-on storm, but I could certainly call it a gusty ol’ breeze whipping up chaos and trouble. Some days it can feel like a dark grey tropical depression. And these roots of mine can feel pretty shallow when I lose my mind over wet underwear someone hid in the laundry basket or get frustrated and yell, “FOCUS ON YOUR MATH PLEASE” twenty-eight times an hour.

And honestly, I don’t think anything is going to change outwardly. I’m still going to have six-going-on-seven kids. I’m still going to have a pregnant body that makes me feel like I’m slogging through deep snow if I don’t snatch a nap here or there. Homeschooling four different grades, making three meals a day plus snacks, and trying to fit doctor/dentist/eye appointments into the mix is going to stay a little chaotic.

But roots. Roots, my friends are going to keep me from toppling over in all of this.

Back to the science experiment for a moment, we also decided to test what would happen if we lowered the plants upside-down into the water with the roots in the air, and just the leaves touching the water. We wanted to see if plants can receive nutrition through their leaves. And as I’m sure you can guess, the celery with just the leaves touching the water became limp and wilted. Although the leaves turned blue from touching the water, our analysis of the inside of the plant showed that it did not have blue streaks inside…therefore, the inside of the plant was not receiving any nutrition from the water through the leaves.

This was a clear reminder to me that many times, I try to suck in strength in an upside down way. I look to social media, Amazon shopping, more sleep than I need, and time spent avoiding difficult things to build my strength up. This is as backwards as only dipping leaves in water and expecting the plant to grow and be nourished. These kinds of things can SEEM right, but they are a pseudo-form of self-care…. true grounding comes from resting in Jesus and pulling strength from Him.

“But girl,” (you might be saying,) “What does being rooted in Jesus look like? How can I develop that? Do I have to become a monk or a nun to experience this rootedness you’re talking about?”

First off, there’s no way I can be a nun at this point lol, so that’s clearly going to be off the table. (I’m pretty sure after one day in the nunnery my kids would hunt me down and say, “Mom, what are you fixing for supper? I need a snack! And I don’t have any clean underwear…”)

Second, I think it starts with a heart-attitude. Take a few seconds and let’s read Luke 18:9-14.

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

This parable reminds me that doing all the right things for all the wrong reasons (like to impress other people) can prevent me from receiving that strength I so need and crave.

Humbly asking my Father for help and grace is honestly how I must start every single morning. I also like to read a few verses and meditate on them or write something down that spoke to me. Worship music is a place of refuge for me, pointing my eyes back to Jesus.

Then, when I fall into those dark places and chaotic moments, sometimes I just yell, “JESUS!!! HELP ME PLEASE!!!” And then I repeat His name over and over again until the curtain of darkness rolls back and I can breathe in the essence and hope of my Savior. (Do my kids look at me strangely? Why yes, yes, they do. Does it matter? Nope. In fact, I repeat Philippians 2:10-11 to remind them that even darkness has to tremble when I say the name of Jesus!)

¹⁰ that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
¹¹ and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

So, friend, stay rooted. Stay abiding in our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Listen to His Holy Spirit. Walk and live in Jesus. Build up those roots by relying on His ever-present strength. Overflow with thanksgiving for the One who has rescued us and given us the ability to withstand the storms if we stand in His strong arms.

Be blessed. Be thankful. Stay rooted.