Family Faith and Fun: The Bubble Gum Tree
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. -Hebrews 4:12
Welcome to Family Faith and Fun Fridays! As the week winds down and I anticipate more family time over the weekend, I often ask God for one good idea that will enable me to bring the Word to life and bring our family together. Usually, the activity overflows out of something the Lord has been teaching me through His Word during the week. I’d like to invite you to join me and my family in the adventure. Sometimes I’ll post things we’ve tried; other times I’ll post an idea in the works. If you’ve got thoughts to add or suggestions on how to adapt or improve the activity, please don’t hesitate to comment.
The Bubble Gum Tree: We Harvest What We Plant
Sometimes I stumble upon an idea that just begs to be repeated; a faith lesson that can be taught over and over again without losing its effectiveness. Eventually, activities like these turn into treasured traditions at our home. Our decision to plant a silly tree each spring has become one of those cherished rituals. Better yet, is the glorious day that the unique tree blooms.
Last year we planted a lollipop tree. This year we sowed bubble gum. The Biblical principal is simple. In the words of the Apostle Paul, “What a person plants, he will harvest.” Galatians 6:7-8
On a warm day in May, we dug a small hole near a bare-limbed tree in our backyard and dropped a soft pink piece of bubblegum into the dark brown mud. We covered the unusual seed with Spring’s rich soil and hoped that it would grow. We watered and watched and waited. Week after week, the sky spit rain and the dirt hibernated beneath June puddles. Finally, the sultry sun burst through the gray and the thermometer rose steadily creating perfect conditions for a bubble gum tree to bloom!
On Friday morning before the kids awoke, I hung dozens of pieces of bubble gum from the leafy branches of the tree that hovered above the dirt where we’d planted. When he tottered out of bed, I handed Joshua a bucket and encouraged him to take his sisters to the backyard to “see what God grew while we slept last night.” My tree planters jumped up and down at the sight of the candied tree, and with a squeal of delight, they began to pluck the chewy harvest. Within moments, each mouth was stuffed full of sweet pink gum. When the reaping was through, we settled onto a blanket for an outdoor breakfast and I read these words of truth from Galatians 6:7-8
Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life. The Message (MSG) 
Then we applied the Living Word to our own lives. “So, would we have harvested bubble gum if we’d planted shoes?” NO!“What if we’d planted broccoli, would that have produced bubblegum?” NO!
I gave Josh a sly smile and asked, “So, according to this simple truth, if I plant anger with the words I use, will I harvest kindness?”
My preschooler thought about this tricky question and then, with the wisdom of a seasoned farmer, answered, “No, Mommy. You can only harvest kindness if you plant it first.”“You’re right,” I said to my bubble-gum-chewing child, “We harvest what we plant.”
“Next year can we plant a money tree?” my twelve-year old asked with a grin. It’s a great weekend for planting something sweet in your own backyard. What kind of harvest would your family enjoy?
Oh man…so many lessons to teach my little ones! I better get cracking1