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.

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