Today’s Chapter: Psalm 1
Today’s verse: Psalm 1:3

“That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

It is a common practice among Jamaican families to plant the umbilical cord of a newborn baby when it falls off. The umbilical cord is either planted beside a tree that is there already or the umbilical cord is placed in the earth and a totally new tree is planted on top of it.

A special tree/plant was selected to ensure the growth and prosperity of the child. In most cases families selected a fruit bearing plant to signify the child’s fruitfulness as he or she grows. This plant was no shrub that would be unearthed by the slightest passing wind. It had to be something durable. It had to be a plant that will grow, bear fruit and flourish for many years to come.

As the plant grew in strength and endured the test of time so will the child whose umbilical cord was planted beside/underneath it.

This practice may be applied to a marriage. The wife is indeed the sturdy plant/tree that is able to withstand the test of time. The umbilical cord represents her husband/her family.

The wife and her endurance will determine the destiny of her marriage.

Will she be a tree that gets blown over by the hurricanes of financial difficulties? Will she endure the floods of family interference? Will she manage the droughts of intimacy? Can she stand firm after land slippages of loss and grief? Will the heat waves of spirituality, religiosity and ministry scorch her leaves? Will the snow of childrearing coupled with corporate life rob her of her fruits? Can she stay grounded through the tornadoes of temptation?

As a wife you have to prepare and brace yourself for the: hurricanes, floods, droughts, landslides, heat waves, snow and tornadoes. You can only be prepared and will only endure with Divine help.

Pray without ceasing, cling to the Word and be led by the Spirit. With this you will be a wife to your husband like that healthy fit tree to the child whose umbilical cord is planted under it.

Strive to be “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers”.

Be rooted, stand firm, be fruitful and you will witness and enjoy the prosperity of your marriage.