The Trees He Planted for Us
In 1987, Harold Matheson drove thirty bare-root walnut saplings into the red clay of his property outside Willamette, Oregon. His own children thought he'd lost...
This is stories & illustrations, drawing on Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12.
In 1987, Harold Matheson drove thirty bare-root walnut saplings into the red clay of his property outside Willamette, Oregon. His own children thought he'd lost his mind. Black walnuts take twenty to thirty years to produce a serious harvest. Harold was already fifty-two. But Harold wasn't planting for himself. In a leather journal found after his death in 2009, his family discovered an entry dated the same week he dug those holes: "These are for the grandchildren I haven't met yet.…
Sign up free to read the full illustration
Join fellow pastors who prep smarter — free account, no credit card.
Sign Up FreeScripture References
Powered by ChurchWiseAI
IllustrateTheWord is part of the ChurchWiseAI family — AI tools built for pastors, churches, and ministry leaders.
PewSearch
Find Your Church Home
The most complete church directory in the US and Canada. 218,000+ churches searchable by location, denomination, and tradition.
Search ChurchesChurchWiseAI
Voice Agent & Church Chatbot
24/7 AI phone receptionist and website chatbot for churches — answers calls, handles questions, and follows up with visitors automatically.