Layla pulled out of the driveway, excited to be driving on her own for the first time. She wasn’t allowed to go far, but fortunately, Grandma and Grandpa’s house was only ten minutes away. With Mom and Dad away for the evening, her grandparents had invited her over for dinner.

She pulled onto the main road, nervous, but confident. Ten minutes later she opened the door into Grandma Sarah’s kitchen, thick with delicious aromas. She inhaled a deep breath, the combination of meats, spices, and Grandma Sarah’s rose-scented perfume. Grandma Sarah hugged her tightly, then returned to the stove.

“Hello, dear.” Grandma said. “I’m glad you could join us tonight. Dinner will be ready in just a few minutes. You can go get your grandfather.”

Layla moved down the hall and knocked on the study door. At her grandfather’s “Come in,” she swung the door open.

“Hey Grandpa, Grandma sent me to get you. She said dinner will be ready soon. What are you doing?”

Thomas glanced up from his notes. “I’m getting ready for Sunday’s sermon. I’ve done a lot of productive studying today.”

“How long have you been a pastor?” Layla asked.

“Almost 45 years. That must seem like an eternity to you. Why do you ask?”

“I would think you’d know everything by now. I don’t get why you still need to study the Bible.”

Thomas rose from his chair, moving toward Layla. “Do you remember last summer when you saw the giant redwood trees?”

“Of course,” Layla said. “They were huge. Are you trying to tell me you’re not so old compared to them?”

Thomas chuckled. “Well, that’s true. Compared to the redwoods, I’m a spring chicken. But it’s not so much their age I’m talking about.” He draped an arm around Layla’s shoulders and they walked toward the kitchen. “Yes, they can be ancient, up to 2000 years old. But their size is truly massive.”

“Yeah, they were enormous,” Layla said. “But what does that have to do with you studying the Bible for 45 years?”

“The redwood trees never stop growing. They can be over 300 feet tall and 35 feet wide. Even with that massive size, they don’t stop growing until the day they die.”

Layla and Thomas entered the kitchen, where Sarah was pulling a casserole from the oven.      “Just in time to set the table,” Sarah said.

Layla grabbed a stack of plates and Thomas pulled out some silverware. As they set the table, Layla continued the conversation.

“So you’re telling me that you’re like a redwood tree and you never stop growing?”
            Thomas nodded. “That’s exactly right. No matter how many years I’ve studied the Bible, God still has more to teach me. It doesn’t matter if you’re 9 or 99. There’s something new in the Bible to learn every year.”

Sarah laughed and patted Thomas’s belly. “I thought you meant growing in a different way.”

Thomas grabbed Sarah around the waist and pulled her close. “You can’t blame that on me. You’ve been fattening me up for decades with your amazing cooking.”

Layla smiled at her grandparents, love filling her heart. “It seems like your love for each other never stops growing, either.”

Sarah gazed at her husband. “Marriage isn’t always easy. But if you put God first, like we do, it helps everything else fall into place.”

“That’s right,” Thomas said, as he filled the glasses with water. “It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve been a Christian. God always has something new to teach you. Sometimes it’s about marriage, sometimes it’s about Him and His love for you as His child. That’s the amazing thing about the Bible. No matter how much I read it, I always find something new.”

Sarah laughed. “I think that’s true in marriage as well. We’ve been married for over 40 years, but your grandfather still does things that baffle me sometimes.”

Thomas grinned. “You’re right. In marriage and in our relationship with God, the longer we spend together, the closer we get. Spending time with God every day deepens our relationship with Him and with each other. He squeezed Layla’s shoulder. “Now let’s eat. This smells delicious, and I need nourishment to keep growing!”

Psalm 92: 12-15

The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”

God, we want to be useful to You throughout our lives. Thank You for the reminder that it doesn’t matter how old we are; we can always bear good fruit and grow closer to You. Please help us to continue to grow in our faith and grow closer to You. Please help us see the opportunities You’ve placed in our lives to serve You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.