I looked out the window, and the first thing that caught my eye was the weeping willow tree. While it’s certainly a large tree, in many ways it seems so delicate. The trunk was the same as any other tree, but the branches were what caught my attention. They were thinner than an average tree branch and stretched from the top of the tree all the way down to the grass. In fact, the branches were so thin that I almost couldn’t see them because of the many thin leaves that traversed two sides of each branch.

What is interesting is that despite their delicateness, the branches seem to be the strongest part of the tree in many ways. They are not overwhelmed by the many narrow leaves. They do not break under the weight of their length. They are not fazed by the breezes that push through. The more I watch this tree, the more I realize that it is actually because of the delicateness of the branches that they survived. If they were rougher, they would not be suitable for the types of leaves they bear. If they were thicker, they would be too heavy to extend the length of the tree. If they were less movable, they would break in the wind rather than moving with the flow of air. The strength of the willow tree is in its delicateness.

This same type of strength is visible in the baby Jesus. A baby is a delicate thing. He cannot care for himself. He has a weak immune system and limited mobility. He is entirely dependent on his caretakers. It is surprising that this delicate form is the one in which God would choose to send His only Son. Yet, this delicateness is truly a strength. In coming in a delicate form, Jesus experienced all that we did, from birth to death. He brought with him the joy, peace and hope that come with a newborn baby and then carried that with him to the cross, the grave, and the sky so that we can continue to carry that newborn excitement with us every day.

Similar to a weeping willow tree or a newborn baby, there are places in our lives in which we are delicate. Places we protect with self-defense coping mechanisms. Maybe even places we are ashamed of. Could it be that in hiding our delicate places, we are actually playing into the enemy’s hands? Could it be that these places carry such strength if only we would use them for God’s Kingdom? To expose the strength of our delicateness would be a victory against the devil. Let the reminder of the newborn Christ lead you in embracing the delicate today.

Experiencing God

• Where are the places in life in which you feel most delicate?
• Other ways to consider the delicate places might be as vulnerabilities, weaknesses, or differences.
• Ask the Lord to show you why He made you delicate in these ways. How can He use it for His Kingdom?

Supporting Scripture

“My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9