Cypress And Myrtle

Tag: Christian woman

  • Motherhood Tug Of War

    Motherhood- a constant inner struggle between the desire to protect and empower.

    As a mom, I am often torn between wanting to do things for my kids, just a little longer and feeling the growing weight of knowing they are old enough to handle things on their own.

    I recently came across an article from Christianity Today that resonated deeply with me. Two key points stood out that shed light on how this struggle fits within the broader picture of our calling as mothers.

    God Gives Us the Power to Make Choices

    The article highlighted a powerful truth: God gives us power to make choices that impact our lives (Romans 2:1,6). As parents, we are tasked with making countless decisions every day on behalf of our children, from what they eat to the values they learn. We guide them, but we also prepare them to make choices for themselves.

    As mothers, it’s easy to slip into the mindset of doing everything for our children, wanting to protect them from any possible failure. But there’s a tension in this. God gives us free will because He trusts us to use it wisely. In the same way, it’s important for us to allow our children to have a say in their lives. We must trust them with their own choices even when they make mistakes because this is how they learn and grow.

    Bearing God’s Image and Our Responsibility to Community

    Another profound insight from the article was the dignity of bearing God’s image (Genesis 1:26-28). As parents, we have the privilege and responsibility to help shape children who reflect God’s character in our communities and the world.

    We are raising future adults, neighbors, leaders, and members of a community. This means our decisions have a ripple effect far beyond the walls of our home.

    So, every choice we make—whether it’s letting them spill the milk or empowering them to handle challenges—shapes the kind of adult they will become.

    What Does This Mean for Moms?

    If like me, you’re feeling like you’re constantly caught between wanting to do everything for your kids and knowing you need to let them go, here are a few thoughts that can help guide your journey:

    Letting Go is Holy Work
    Our desire to hold on just a little longer isn’t wrong. It’s a reflection of love. But it’s important to remember that the goal is to raise children who can stand on their own. God, in His grace, doesn’t suffocate our choices but empowers us to grow. In the same way, we’re called to help our children grow into independent, capable adults.

    Parent with Purpose
    Every decision we make should empower our children. The act of parenting forward – giving our kids space to make their own decisions and live with the consequences isn’t just an act of love; it’s an act of faith. Trust that our children are capable of growth, and believe in their ability to rise to the occasion.

    Grieve the Letting Go, But Celebrate the Growth
    It’s okay to feel sadness as our children become more independent. Letting go is hard. But we are not withdrawing love; we are creating room for them to reflect God’s image in their own unique way. This is a sacred part of motherhood: letting them flourish on their own, knowing you’ve done your part in guiding them.

    Mirror God’s Love
    The ultimate example of love is God’s relationship with us. He gives us freedom to make our choices, but He never leaves us. As a mother, we have the unique calling to mirror that balance of presence and freedom. We’re always there to support them, but we also trust them to walk with God independently.

    Final thoughts, motherhood is a divine partnership, where we are given the incredible responsibility of helping to shape future adults who bear the image of God. As we navigate the complex emotions of letting go, remember that it’s not a loss but a gain—for us, for our children, and for the world.

  • An Open Letter: What Is It Like To Die?

    To My Eldest Daughter,

    You were seven when you asked me, “Mummy, what is it like to die?”

    I paused. Searching for words your young heart could understand.
    Then I said, “It’s like walking across a bridge into the arms of Jesus. The moment you hear His voice, you’ll realize He’s been with you your whole life. Like an old friend, familiar, warm, and close to your heart.”

    You thought for a moment, then quietly nodded. Accepting the answer with a child’s calm trust.

    As you grow, and your faith deepens, it is my deepest desire and constant prayer that you will come to know Him not only as an old friend but as your Lord and Savior.

    Jesus is not only gentle and kind. He is God in the flesh.
    He is the Word who was with God in the beginning. And He is God (John 1:1). Through Him, all things were made (John 1:3).

    He is Immanuel—God with us (Matthew 1:23).

    He walked among us, full of grace and truth. And though He had every right to remain in heaven, He humbled Himself to become like us, so He could save us (Philippians 2:6–8).

    He healed the sick, calmed storms with a word and raised the dead.

    And then He chose the cross. Not because He was weak but because He is love.

    No one took His life from Him. He laid it down willingly. (John 10:18)
    And on the third day, He rose again, declaring forever that death does not win.

    This is the Jesus I want you to know.

    He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. (Matthew 16:16)
    He is the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

    He is the Alpha and the Omega (Revelation 22:13). The Beginning and the End. And He is coming again.

    In Him is life, And that life is the light of all mankind (John 1:4).

    So, dearest daughter, choose Life. Remain in Him always.

    With all my love,
    Mummy

  • Cypress and Myrtle: A Promise For Every Season

    Some of you may be wondering why I chose to name this blog Cypress and Myrtle. A quick search in the Bible leads to Isaiah 55:12–13:

    “You will go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
    the mountains and hills
    will burst into song before you,
    and all the trees of the field
    will clap their hands.
    Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper,
    and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
    This will be for the Lord’s renown,
    for an everlasting sign,
    that will endure forever.”

    These verses were shared with me at my baptism, and they’ve been etched in my heart ever since. They’ve whispered hope during dark seasons and magnified joy in times of celebration.

    From Exile to Hope

    Isaiah 55 was written during a painful time in Israel’s history – their exile in Babylon. They were a displaced people, longing for freedom, identity, and peace. It was in this context that God spoke through the prophet Isaiah, painting a vision of restoration; hope for a future filled with renewal and joy.

    Why Cypress and Myrtle?

    In verse 13, the thornbush is replaced by the cypress (sometimes translated juniper), and the brier by the myrtle. These are deeply symbolic plants.

    The cypress is tall, evergreen, and strong—often associated with life, endurance, and eternal hope.

    The myrtle, with its fragrant leaves and white blossoms, is a symbol of peace, joy, and divine blessing in Jewish tradition.

    Together, they represent a transformation from pain to beauty, from despair to delight, from exile to restoration.

    This speaks to the very heart of God’s nature. He doesn’t just remove the thorns in our lives. He replaces them with something better. Something beautiful. Something enduring.

    A Name and a Reminder

    I named this blog Cypress and Myrtle to remind myself—and hopefully others, that we are never stuck in the wilderness forever. Whether we’re walking through sorrow or standing on a mountaintop, God’s promises still hold. He is always working to bring about renewal and restoration.

    This space is where I hope to share stories, reflections, and everyday moments where I see God’s hand turning thorn bushes into cypress trees, and briers into blossoming myrtle.

    No matter where you are in your journey, may these verses remind you: there is purpose in the waiting, hope in the silence, and beauty still to come.

  • 8 Strips Of Paper

    It was 2006, and I was in a season of turmoil—standing at the crossroads of chasing my ambitions and seeking God’s purpose for my life. I wrestled with where my own desires ended and where His calling began.

    During that time, I was reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren and A Woman After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George. One night, I tore a page from my notebook and wrote down eight things I needed God to help me with—each on a strip of paper.

    In no particular order, my list read:

    To be godly feminine

    To be alone but not lonely

    To be a better steward of money

    To be a better steward of time

    To learn to live in a Christian community

    To find a life partner

    To have more faith in Him

    To have more courage

    I folded the eight strips of paper and placed them in a shoebox. A few months later, I opened the box to revisit my list. Nothing had changed.

    A year later, on my birthday, I opened the box again. Not much had happened, except one thing: I realized I was no longer as lonely when I was alone.

    At the end of 2007, I made a bold decision—to leave the corporate world and become a full-time seminary student. It meant living on campus for at least a year, without a stable income. It was a scary step. (The initial one year became three years).

    A year into seminary life, I opened the shoebox again. This time, I found that almost every prayer had been answered:

    I was learning to be godly feminine.

    I have learned to live in a community of believers.

    With no regular income, I learned to steward both time and money with discipline.

    My faith was growing. So was my courage.

    All except one—“to find a life partner.”

    But God wasn’t done. I met him in seminary. He was a fellow student, also following God’s call. We became friends, then more. Two years after I graduated, we got married. The final prayer in the shoebox was answered.

    Blessings Come After Obedience

    My journey reminded me of Abraham.

    In Genesis 12, God gave Abraham a command:
    “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.”
    (Genesis 12:1, NIV)

    God didn’t give Abraham a detailed plan. There was no map, no itinerary.

    But God let him know the blessings he would receive if he chose to obey God.
    “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you… and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
    (Genesis 12:2–3)

    So, Abraham obeyed and he went.

    The blessings didn’t come before Abraham moved—they came after his obedience. That’s the pattern we see throughout Scripture. When we obey and take the step of faith, even when we can’t see the whole picture, God responds. He transforms us in the process.

    And so, I leave you with this simple reminder:
    that blessings come after obedience.
    Not instantly. Not always the way we imagined. But always, in God’s time and way.