
Special thanks to Daily Thankful, Adrianna, and Angela (click to read their fantastic posts) for unknowingly helping to inspire the words in this image and in the post below – seems that we are on the same wavelength. ❤
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. (Jeremiah 17:8 KJV)
“He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3 (NASB)
Grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate or coconut water or whatever beverage you enjoy sipping on while reading long articles because this is going to end up being a long one. 😅
Last fall, I put some apple seeds that I saved out of an apple into some dirt to allow it to naturally go through the winter. I also put some in the refrigerator last November and again in January. I took them out briefly for the photo below. The seeds are wrapped in a damp paper towel which I placed in a Ziploc bag so that they wouldn’t dry out.
This process is known as stratification. “In horticulture, stratification is the process of pretreating seeds to simulate natural conditions that a seed must endure before germination. Many seed species have an embryonic dormancy phase, and generally will not sprout until this dormancy is broken.” — Wikipedia
When it comes to apple seeds, it usually takes, according to the linked article, 70 to 80 days. However, it looks like they can sprout too soon. I say that because one of the little apple trees I planted to be stratified this winter sprung up too early instead of waiting for spring like it was supposed to. The silly thing. Anyway.

Johnny Appleseed the Second, in his pig pot under the plant light
I brought that one inside and left the rest to be good little seeds and go through the rest of stratification. The little tree (whose name is Johnny Appleseed the Second, by the way – because I name everything – and this was my dad’s suggestion for a name) is now about three inches tall; I didn’t expect it to survive because it sprouted at the wrong time. But it did. So I put it under my plant light with my citronella plant, garlic, rubber plant, daffodil, Aloe Vera, Venus flytrap, pitcher plant, tomatoes, peppers, lemon trees, Mandarin orange saplings, and one other citrus tree that I am unsure of what it is. I think I’ve turned our “Arts and Crafts room” into a nursery at this point. 😅 Oh, I’m digressing. Getting back on topic…
So far, Johnny Appleseed the Second looks healthy. However, since Johnny Appleseed the Second will be indoors until spring, I wanted to make sure I was taking proper care of him. The ones I had last year (that came up in the spring like good little seeds) nature took care of, except for the occasional watering, so that they would be used to being outdoors. I thought I remembered this, and so researched it:
“Wind greatly affects plants throughout their growth. When plants are seedlings, slight breezes help them grow more sturdy. ” — Gardening FAQ
Turns out I remembered correctly. Thus, if the little guy is constantly protected from the wind and then planted outside this spring, his trunk will be weak and the wind could break him.
Therefore, staking a plant or blocking the wind from reaching a plant can actually do more harm than good in the long run, as long as the wind is not storm-strength. Every other day or so, I blow on Johnny Appleseed the Second, trying to mimic wind to make him stronger.

Tree trunk silhouette at sunset
And then I realized… just like I am doing for little Johnny Appleseed the Second, God allows us to go through trials that make us bend and knocks us around so that we get stronger in Him. He allows the wind to blow, and with it, strengthens us so we don’t break when the stronger storms come later.
In conclusion to this long-winded (sorry bad pun) post: We’re like apple trees! 🍎 🍏 Okay, okay: Our Father in Heaven allows turbulence to strengthen His children because He loves them. ❤
This poem by Lillian E. Barr was in Streams In The Desert in the January 16th devotional; it seems relevant here. I hope you enjoy her poem as much as I did:
THE TREE GOD PLANTS
The wind that blows can never kill
The tree God plants;
It bloweth east, it bloweth west,
The tender leaves have little rest,
But any wind that blows is best;
The tree God plants
Strikes deeper root, grows higher still,
Spreads wider boughs, for God’s good will
Meets all its wants.
There is no frost hath power to blight
The tree God shields;
The roots are warm beneath soft snows,
And when Spring comes it surely knows,
And every bud to blossom grows.
The tree God shields
Grows on apace by day and night,
Till sweet to taste and fair to sight
Its fruit it yields.
There is no storm hath power to blast
The tree God knows;
No thunderbolt, nor beating rain,
Nor lightning flash, nor hurricane
When they are spent it doth remain.
The tree God knows
Through every tempest standeth fast,
And from its first day to its last
Still, fairer grows.
If in the soul’s still garden-place
A seed God sows
A little seed it soon will grow,
And far and near all men will know
For heavenly lands, he bids it blow.
A seed God sows,
And up it springs by day and night;
Through life, through death, it groweth right;
Forever grows.
What a delightful and, yes, educational, post! And thank you for the link. 🙂 You know, I’ve read the Bible through, but never noticed the correspondence between Ps. 1:3 and Jer. 17:8. Thank you for sharing those verses. I loved your illustration of winds that make us strong, and I admire your green house. My “green thumb” is more brown than green. Lol… The poem was perfect!
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Thank you! ❤
Aww, you're welcome – I was happy to link to your blog. 🙂
I was surprised too; I searched for the Psalm and was surprised that the verse from Jeremiah came up. And then I saw it again on Daily Hopeful and I thought maybe there was a reason for it, haha.
Thank you! 😀
Aww, haha. 🙂 My thumb isn't always green, but my fruit tree experiment is going well! Almost too well. Citrus trees don't grow in this climate, so I don't know what I'll do once the citrus trees outgrow their pots…
I enjoyed that poem too! 🙂 I'm enjoying all of Streams In The Desert so far, actually.
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Wonderful illustration! We sometimes fear the wind, but Jesus calms the wind. What do we have to fear now?
be blessed
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Thank you! ❤
AMEN! 😀
Blessings to you as well! ❤
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What a great comparison!!! Way to go on planting 🙂 One day I will learn and get better!!!!
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Thank you! ❤
You can do it! 😀 The work is worth it. 🙂
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“I think I’ve turned our “Arts and Crafts room” into a nursery at this point.” ya think?! 🤣🤣🤣. We truly learn best under duress, don’t we? Sometimes, I ask the Lord, why can’t I learn the first time? Why can’t I just do what He wants? I know what to do, but do I struggle? Praise the Lord, He is forgiving and merciful
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😂 😂 😂 😂 😂 And many of those I mentioned I have more than one of. There are 7 lemon trees, 3 oranges (soon to be more – I think four more are sprouting!) four tomatoes, and five pepper plants… I’m hopeless. 😅
Yes, exactly! AMEN, praise the Lord! 😀 I’m so thankful for His mercy. ❤
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Amen 🙏🏽
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Oh, my, the comparison. I love it! I enjoy learning new things every day, especially where it concerns His Word. I also love the sunset photo, your pig pot, and the poem. God bless you, Grace. 💙
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Thank you! ❤
Me too! And like you said, especially when it concerns His Word. 🙂
Thanks! 😊 I loved that poem too – and all that I've read in Streams In The Desert thus far. 🙂
God bless you too, Diana! ❤
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Most welcome, Grace, and thank you. 💙
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Hello Grace what a rich post. All points tie together to make a wonderful memorable lesson about an awesome God. Thank you for the heart touching post.
Denny
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Thank you! ❤ I'm so glad that you enjoyed it. 🙂
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I haven’t planted any fruit trees or trees from seeds. Thank you for explaining the process. What a great illustration of setting the roots deep to reach for the water for growth. Wonderful post, Grace!
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It’s a lot of fun! 🙂 Interestingly, I’ve read that if you plant a seed from an apple, that doesn’t guarantee that the new tree will be the same kind of apple as the apple the seed came from, if that makes sense. I guess I’ll have a bunch of mystery apples until they are old enough to produce! 🙂
😀
Thank you! ❤
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Oh, wow! I planted the young fruit trees. It still takes them at least two years to produce, and mature by the first year. My Delicious Red apple tree is 3 years old, and is not producing mature apples yet. Growing from seeds would take a lot longer. 🙂 🙂
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Wow! I didn’t realize it would still take a few years to get apples if you buy the older plant! Do you think you may get fruit this year?
I’m considering getting a couple of older trees this spring so that I’ll get fruit sooner!
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I have been getting apples, but they were small and didn’t taste good. I mended the soil and put fruit fertilizer to all the fruit trees. I can hardly wait to see how they do this year. 🙂
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Yikes! I hope they do well this year and give you sweet fruit! 🙂
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WoW! Great symbolism! Loved it! I always have my doubts about my blog but I have to remmember what your posts said with the persistent seed! Hopefully you enjoy my blog! https://conqueringourdemons.wordpress.com
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Thank you! ❤
I do enjoy your blog! 🙂 Keep on persisting! ❤
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Indeed God trains us to be better through trials. This is such a beautiful story. God bless you. Say hi to Johnny
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🙂 ❤
Thank you! ❤
God bless you too!
😀 Hehe, I shall! The temperatures are finally supposed to stay above freezing for a while, so he's outside getting rain and sun. Mostly rain right now though. 😅
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Awww you’re trees are beautiful and the name your father suggested is so funny! Lol I love it! I want that pig pit though, I think I might roast it instead 😂😂😂 make some pork stew lolol ok I’m done!!!
I really love the quote in the inception as well! The poem was very nice and uplifting as well!
So true! God will always bring us through every storm! I believe he equips us through it to take us to that higher place to fulfill his will and also to prepare us for the bigger storms ahead! Our faith in him also increases! 🙏💯
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Thank you! ❤
Yes, my dad chose a great funny name! 😀
LOL!!! 😂 😂 😂
Thanks! 😀
I liked that poem too. 🙂
Amen to that! 🙏
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De nada mí amiga!
Lol! 😂🙌 él es bueno con los nombres!!!
De Nada!!
Fantastíco! 🙌
Dios Bendiga mí amiga! 💛 I’ll leave you to figure out these sentences lol #bestofluck 😂
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😀
Amén! (Had to ask Google how to say this in Spanish – funny that it’s the same except with an accent mark. 😂)
😀
Dios Bendiga, mi amiga! ❤ I understood all except for "los nombres" and felt kinda proud of myself. 😄 Thanks for the practice, this is so much fun! 😀
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Lol oh my that’s like the de easiest word to say in Spanish after no! Haha! 😂😂😂
Los nombres means the names! Llamo is another way to say name as well 😊 ha! No problem at all my sister! God bless! Xx 💛
Haha good to know and well done! I’m still proud of you though!
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Yeah! And I had no idea until now! 😂 😂 😂
Ooohhh. 😀 That’s cool! I remember llamo. 🙂 God bless! ❤
Aww, thanks. 😊
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Truly love your writing! Have a blessed Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday!💕
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Thank you! ❤
I hope you had a blessed Good Friday and have a wonderful Resurrection Sunday too! 💕
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Many thanks. We sure did. Have a blessed week!💕
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I’m glad to hear that! 🙂 Thank you, you too! ❤
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