When we raised our daughters, my husband and I wanted to give them two things: roots and wings.
First, they needed roots to ground themselves in God’s love. This rooting happened in obvious ways – praying with them, opening the Scriptures to them, and introducing them to the fellowship of believers. It also happened in the private moments of heartbreak, grief, and sickness that we all face – even as children.
Second, we knew our daughters needed wings. With wings, they could soar in their faith and fulfill their God-given potential, wherever He might lead. That meant opening their eyes to a world that existed outside of our farm, introducing them to other cultures, places, and people who didn’t look like us. It meant infusing them with courage to try new things, even if they feared failure.
Our daughters have matured into women, and it’s our great joy to see that their roots held and wings sprouted. Praise the Lord, it happened despite our imperfect parenting.
Our older daughter, Lydia, is studying for her master’s at Cambridge in England. Our younger daughter, Anna, is finishing up her final year at Iowa State University with plans to enter the mission field in southeast Asia, where she’ll share Jesus with unreached people. Anna will live, literally, on the other side of the world. If you would have told me a few years ago that those wings would take our girls so far away, I would have panicked! Yet we find ourselves here, knowing God has His own ideas about how wings work.
Lately, when I ponder our roots-and-wings philosophy as parents, I am reminded that this is how God parents us, too. God wants to give us roots and wings – so we can grow deep into His love and soar high into His call.
Let’s talk first about those roots. Reading the Bible, you can see that God has a soft spot for metaphor, especially metaphors involving nature – trees, vines, fruit, and yes, even roots.
For most of our lives, people tell us to “grow up.” But God mostly wants us to grow down – down into Him with deep roots. He desires for us to be “… rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught …” (Colossians 2:7 NIV, emphasis added).
We are parented by God toward rootedness in the same way that parents work to root their children in Christ – through worship, prayer, and His word. We need strong roots when inevitable storms come, to keep us steady when the winds of life blow.
Then, God parents us toward using our wings, reminding us that when we place our hope in Him, we will “soar on wings like eagles, … run and not grow weary, … walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:3 NIV, emphasis added).
And when we use those wings to fly, we can be assured that God goes with us.
“If I flew on morning’s wings
to the far western horizon,
You’d find me in a minute—
you’re already there waiting!”
Psalm 139:7-12 The Message
(emphasis added)
God wants us to stay open to the unexpected ways (and places!) He might take us – even if it’s uncomfortable at first.
Take a moment to think about how God parents you toward rootedness. How has He helped you put roots down to hold you strong in the storms of life? If you feel unrooted today, ask God to give you strength.
Then, take a moment to think about how God parents you toward using those beautiful wings of yours. Maybe He’ll wing you around the world — or maybe around the block. If you feel like your wings are a bit battered, ask for God’s help. The world says, “Stay safe, and keep your feet on the ground.” But God says, “I got you, girl. Now spread your wings and fly.”
Today, may you sense God tending both your roots and your wings – so that you can go deep and soar high, for His glory and His name’s sake.
Leave a Comment
Sharri Dean says
Oh this just made my morning. In a season of change for this mamma. A son who is recently married and moving to Europe(understand you here friend), a daughter whose photography career is flourishing thanks to our powerful God, and our baby Grace who is now driving! I have literally been driving kiddos for 27 years.
God has been preparing me for this season for years and working on those roots. We recently purchased a 34 Acres farm and have been hosting weddings, corporate events and my favorite… womens retreats. Back to work after 52 years. Ha ha
Thank you for this timely article♥️
Who knows, if your ever in the DC area maybe we can have you as a guest speaker!
Check out Hilltop Farm too
God bless you and your family sister!
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Thank you, Sharri, for sharing all this! You’re right … we have some things in common here. What part of Europe? I’m excited to be FaceTiming with Lydia in a couple hours. THANK GOD FOR FACETIME! And yes, I’d love to speak in your area at some time. I’ve spoken in Maryland, and the Carolinas, and Connecticut is coming up in 2025, but I haven’t spoken much on the east side of the US, other than those places!
Susen says
Wow! I loved what you shared and read it over a few times and even made up a more personal prayer from your words at the end:
“Dear God,
May I sense You tending to both my roots and wings so that I may go deep and soar high for Your glory and name’s sake.”
Amen!
What a powerful message you shared I also passed it along to my cousin, as I think so many can benefit from this, but just your metaphor and the way you worded it really sank deep into my heart so thank you ☺️
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
I love how you turned those words into a prayer. And now, I’m praying those words with you! Thank you for that!
Lisa Wilt says
Jennifer,
Thank you for sharing… I shared your devotional on Twitter because it touched me!
Sending you autumn joy,
Lisa Wilt
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Lisa, We really appreciate when you share our incourage content. Thank you so very much!
Jessica says
Absolutely perfect words for where I am right now with my own daughter. Thank you!
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Thanks so much for your comment, Jessica. It’s good to know that these words resonated with you today.
Betsy Basile says
Dear Jennifer………..I truly liked your words today, but sometimes I get lost with where my “Wings” went and why. I know that it has everything to do with what my son has done to me, and he is 54 years old now. When I received his call 2 years ago where he told me that I was a liar and that he did not consider me his mother anymore and I could never see or talk to my 1 grandson who was 12 at the time ever again. My husband has a very serious type of dementia and for the 3+ years I stayed with him he was in denial and did not do anything the doctors told him he had to in order for the disease to at least slow down its progress. The first thing they told him he had to do was stop drinking alcohol. Instead he increased what he was drinking and abused me every single night until 4/20/2022 when he came close to killing me. It is now 5 years that he has had it and I needed to have him evicted from our house of 40 years. My faith is very strong and unshakeable, but at times being alone in a facility different from him, I just wonder what I did, that God sent me in this path. From the time I was 5 years old I have been a churchgoer and prayed alot due to my wonderful parents. I have been with this church for 71 years now. I pray every day almost the same prayer that maybe God could have my grandson come to me, but at 77 years old, I fear that I don’t have enough time to wait. Thank you Jennifer for your devotion and I love every single one of you at (in)courage. You all have helped to keep me grounded and instill some hope that my “wings” will be repaired and I can soar like I always used to. Have a Blessed Day and a wonderful “Holy Days” season (Thanksgiving and Christmas). Your friend……..Betsy
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Oh Betsy, Thank you for sharing so tenderly and vulnerably with us. My heart breaks for you, as a mama. You’ve gone through so much, and I can’t even imagine how this must feel for you. I want you to know that I am praying for you today — praying that God would see fit to restore what has been broken. I also pray that you can see that you really DO have wings to soar for him. I am just imagining, for instance, you in that church of yours — for 71 YEARS! You have so much wisdom and knowledge to share with others. If I were in your church, I’d love a mentor like you who has faced many trials through life, and yet holds onto Jesus through it all. That’s a powerful testimony, my friend! I hope that God gives you eyes today to see what a difference you’re making, right where you are! Soar on, sweet Betsy!
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Jennifer I don’t have kids. God made it that way for me and my Husband to happy just the two of us. I am glad as not brave enough to have kids. I have between both my sister’s one has four kids and the other has six kids. Some have left home. Some finished University. Some still in Secondary school. So We both me and my Husband got them to spoil. Thank you for what you wrote. It spoke to me. You asked a question which really spoke to me. Take a moment to think about how God parents us. God Parents me as he is my Heavenly Father who loves me. God wants me to shine for him everything I do. Especially with my unsaved Family as none of them saved. Not even my elderly Father at 83. He can think of himself. He thinks when you die that is it hardly ever goes to Church. But I am thankful he and my late Mum sent us to Sunday School. Were I heard about Jesus. So I want to shine Jesus in front of my unsaved Family. Soar high in Jesus love in everything I do in front of them. Plus when doing my Dad’s Home I do for him in the Love of the Lord and the Love of my Dad doing his house. So as he sees I am different and have the love of Jesus in me. I pray for his Salvation along with my Family. All I want from my Dad is to know he saved when leaves earth one day. So I will see him Glory one day. That would be the best present my Dad could give to know he saved before he leaves earth when his time up. I want to go Deep in the Love of Jesus living as his word says and doing it in my life. So my Dad and Family see that. Want what I have that is to know Jesus for themselves. I live in World but I am not of the world. Every thing I do is for Jesus in this world. I don’t know if my late Mum was saved. But I did pray for her Salvation. She did say to me Dawn you go Church read your Bible say your prayers where did I get you from. I said back to my Mum when alive God has me hear for a reason. My Dad knows I pray for him and his Salvation. He just says oh glad you believe all that stuff. I know he doesn’t mean it. Thank you again Jennifer for what you wrote. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Irealand. Xx
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
This is so beautiful, Dawn. I love how you shared your answer to the question about God parenting you.
Soar on, Dawn! You are making a difference in the lives of others as you share His love with them!
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Besty Basiel it Dawn all the way from the other side of the world. Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland. I am still praying for you. Because of all you said in your comments in today’s reading by Jennifer Dukes Lee. God gave me this song for you you get it on YouTube as you said about your wings went. So God said give Besty this song to listen to her wings have not went no matter what going on in her life. The song is “Soar Like Eagles.” From Isaiah 40:29-31. Do listen to it. It will tell you that you have not lost your wings. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little xx
Jennifer Dukes Lee says
Thanks for taking the time to encourage Betsy, Dawn!
Betsy Basile says
Dearest Dawn………..Bless you for sending me that song. I immediately got my Bible and read it out loud. It is perfect and I started to cry as you don’t even know me, yet you sent me something that I will sing every day and I will thank you for reminding me along with Jennifer that my wings are still with me. I just need to “fix” them a little. I will think of you every day all the way in Ireland and pray for you as well. The one true love of my life was Irish through and through and I thought he was going to marry me, but something happened to him after college and he disappeared from my life and did not even tell me why. I have never found another guy that I loved like I loved him. Take care and love from me to you……….Betsy Basile
Dawn Ferguson-Little says
Thank you Besty for your kind reply it is a pleasure as Sister in Christ to pray for you. You might not get your reward this side of earth for staying faithful in your prayer for your family. Or see your prayers answered. But you remember you will get your reward in Glory for staying faithful. Like people in percused Church stay faithful. No matter what they go through for believing in Jesus. They will get there reward one day when leave this world for staying faithful even if don’t get this side of earth. If the people don’t repent for all they do to them. They will be sorry when leave earth. Remember this is to do with your family too. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess Jesus Lord. Even your family even though they don’t see your faith in Lord. How true that is. Love Dawn Ferguson-Little Enniskillen Co.Fermanagh N.Ireland xx
Courtney Humble says
Thank you for sharing. I liked the way you described the roots and wings and how it can relate to faith.