Psalm 34:18

¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted
    and saves the crushed in spirit.

John 11:33

³³ When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in his spirit and greatly troubled.

Ecclesiastes 3:4

⁴ a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

When I lived in Plano, Texas, my family and I would take long evening walks between neighborhoods admiring God’s creation. The dusky horizon not only softened to pastel hues but heightened the colors from ground to sky. We always admired the manicured lawns, sculptured shrubs, and perfectly planted trees. Let’s be honest, my yard was not one of them, but we had fun admiring others. Some afternoon outings involved slow walks discussing unique home architecture while others involved roller-skating with friends. While roller-skating, the only topic of conversation included ways to keep my wife from falling and breaking her arm. A word of warning – do not try to “walk” your dog while on roller-skates [yes, insert laughing now].

Most yards were adorned with a variety of trees and plants projecting God’s masterpiece through difference, diversity, and color. One tree, in particular, always garnered my attention. The long, slender limbs of the weeping willow sparked my interest and imagination. This tree droops gracefully toward the ground, resembling the way water droplets might fall or tears might run down, evoking a gentle, sorrowful look; what a stark contrast from the others. This drooping effect, combined with its often contemplative stance, inspired the name “weeping” for this type of tree.

Despite its beauty, my memory is scorned with a gentle warning. You see, my father-in-law has a Ph.D. in horticultural sciences from LSU. He often said, “Don’t ever plant a weeping willow so close to your house like the ones you see here. Their roots are invasive causing cracked foundations, ruptured pipes, and broken sidewalks.” Thus, most avoid these trees altogether.

In a world where people tend to project upward emotions like a cypress or maple, my eyes are drawn to the wounded, downcast, and sorrowful like the weeping willow. Sadly, most of us are conditioned to either look away, ignore, or avoid. We become so preoccupied with our own lives that we fail to see our neighbor’s limbs succumbing to its own weight. Before long, his limbs arch ever so closely to the ground with irreparable downward projections. We walk by failing to notice the sadness despite the outward downcast appearance and cries.

This symbolic association with sadness is exactly what Jesus sought to heal. He could see a downcast soul despite a cheerful exterior. Jesus reached down and picked up the limbs of the lowly through healing, deliverance, freedom, and salvation. Mark 2:17 (NIV) says, “Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.'” Psalm 34:18 says, “Jesus is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

As believers, we are called to walk with kingdom focus, purpose, and mindfulness; this includes keeping an eye out for the brokenhearted. As I continue to reflect on the symbolism, I remember my father-in-law also saying, “Weeping willows aggressively seek water.” In fact, one could say they love water. This is one main reason why they disrupt pipes underground. Their roots grow rapidly, in all directions, seeking water for growth. This is why most are planted near bodies of water or very moist soil.

One of Jesus’s main characteristics includes being “living water.” Those who trust in Him will thirst no more [John 5:35]. In a broken world, it is our responsibility as Christ’s ambassadors to give living water. This means we have to actually be looking for opportunities. Also, we cannot give what we do not have.

~Listen with empathy

~Offer encouragement

~Intercede with prayer

~Encourage fellowship

~Be patient

~Extend compassion

I am fully confident that you have been a weeping willow at one time or another. In fact, I can say with 100% certainty that everyone will experience this at least once in their lifetime. Your roots dug deep but found dry land. Blinded by darkness, you fanned out further for any drop of solace yet there was none. Your limbs dropped even further blanketing the grass like a heavy coat. If you did not know any differently, you would have believed that you were planted in the desert. I am here to say – I see you and hear you. Most importantly, I am here to offer an endless abundance of living water through Jesus Christ; come and drink from His fountain.

Lesson: Go and sit under someone’s weeping willow…listen, encourage, and pray; their roots will thank you.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

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