Your Roots Are Showing

Many people color their hair, and most are careful to touch up their roots. On a recent TV fashion show, a lovely blonde looked great until there was an overhead shot. Oh, those black roots! It was rather shocking.

I remember mom used to color her hair. One day my brother was giving us a tour of the town when he said, “Mom, when is your hair going to turn gray?” She laughed and said, “When I let it!”

We know roots are important. Without them, we would have no growing things, but we do need to nurture them. In a garden, they need good soil, water, and sunshine. But in our hair, touch-up color is needed at the roots to maintain a pleasant effect.

Now, let’s consider the roots of our personality. Some people can seem quite pious until they get careless and let their roots show. For example, Hebrews 12:15 cautions us to let no root of bitterness spring up to cause trouble and defile people.

There’s nothing pleasant about bitterness. It’s sour, harsh, acidic, and tart, and I don’t just mean on our taste buds. Our words can produce those effects, too.

But, if we become aware of a bitter root, there is a solution. Ephesians 4:31-32 says to get rid of bitterness and the harsh things it produces, and replace it with some positive things: First, choose to be kind, second be tenderhearted, and third, be forgiving toward each other.

Christ is our example, and in The Lord’s Prayer, He taught us to say, “Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.” Paul clarified that in Romans 13:8. We are to be indebted to no none, except to love them.

People who care about their spiritual life will pay attention to their roots. There’s an interesting line in Zechariah 4:10 about not despising the day of small things. The small thing there is a plumb line. It’s an unimpressive item, but mighty important to the foundation of a structure.

So, let’s not get careless. Let’s keep our spiritual roots pleasantly colored and healthy through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Word, and prayer.  

Pixabay: Scissors, Cutting, Hair; Clker-Free-Vector-Im...

 

Beware the Bitter Root

BEWARE THE BITTER ROOT

One day, out of curiosity, I asked mom, “What’s your favorite verse?”

Curiosity Creates Questions

Without hesitating she replied, “Great peace have they which love thy law; and nothing shall offend them” (Psalm 119:165 KJV).

She had been a minister's wife for many years, but this surprised me. “Why is that important to you, now, Mom? You haven’t worked with a congregation for several years.”

She just said, “It’s very important to me.” No further explanation was given and I respected her privacy.

You Don't Have to be an Owl to be Wise

Anyone who has worked with people knows there are plenty of opportunities to lose your peace by becoming offended. 

I haven’t met a perfect person yet. Neither have I nominated myself for that category!

If we think of life like a garden, we are constantly planting seeds of contentment or discontentment. Rarely, however, do we consider the relational roots of the seeds we plant.

There is some wisdom in Hebrews 12:15 that I think underscores mom’s verse. It says, “See to it that . . . no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.”

Bitterness is not a very pleasant character trait and it never leads to peace. Bitter people often come across as angry, harsh or vindictive.

Like a taproot, bitterness can remain hidden yet affect everything which can be seen above it.

Roots Are Important to Life

Pull up a baby carrot with a thread-like root and you think that’s nothing. But left to grow, the root becomes stronger. 

Eventually you have to pull harder to get it out. Even then, you won’t enjoy the carrot until the dirt is removed.

Self-absorption is fertile soil for a toxic root of offense. That’s why I say, “Beware the bitter root.”

Awareness and forgiveness both go a long way toward producing a harvest of personal peace.