FJWL_02:17
         Behold these young oaks as they stand and wave beautifully in the breeze! They started out as tiny acorns that you and I have watered and nurtured and cared for these many years. Now they are strong young trees, striving to grow into huge, strong oaks that can shelter many and protect them from the storms and the adversities, that can shade them from the heat, and even feed them the food that they need.
         I have called these young oaks and I have put My will in their hearts. They truly love Me and their hearts are right with Me, but they need protection as they grow. They need to continue to be nurtured and watered and fed and strengthened.
         But they are ready! Their idealism is strong. They have much physical strength and stamina to withstand the heartaches and the hardships, the trials and the tests that will besiege them. But they need the larger, stronger oaks who have weathered many storms, who do the job of shading, comforting and feeding even though their branches are bowed and bent and gnarled.
         These young ones are in need of that brokenness. They need to see that brokenness and the usefulness that results; that even though the battles and the storms and the trials of training are difficult and arduous and long, they can see the fruit of it in these larger, stronger oaks.
         So let them look to you, My leaders, My strong oaks! Take them with you and let them grow up together with you. Pour into them, and they will become the strong oaks that are needed.
         It takes many years for the roots of an oak tree to grow deeply enough into the ground so that they can hold no matter how fierce the storms. The saplings must be surrounded by strong oaks when they are young, so that when the storms come, they will not be ripped from the ground, torn and battered. So it is with these young leaders who need you to love and care for them and take them with you.
         There are many young oaks in the forest who wish to grow into strong oaks. Look diligently for those that are growing strong and reaching for the sky, searching for the light, so that they can grow stronger and stronger! Look for those that are looking to grow so they can shade and help and comfort and reach out to others, to be a strength to them and a beauty to the world.



Copyright (c) 1998 by The Family