Perhaps olive plants are not the first image that comes to mind when we think of children.

Kudzu, cacti, or some sort of jungle tree may seem a better fit, perhaps, but consider the olive tree.

Years ago, olive trees were plentiful in the Holy Land. These slow-growing, bulky trees provided both beauty and shade.

Wood from their trunks and branches was — and still is — highly prized for furniture making, and for carving everything from bowls and basins to kitchen utensils.

The trees bore delicious fruit, some of which was eaten. The rest was pressed into valuable oil. Olive oil was used to illuminate rooms, to cook with, for moisturizing, and even for anointing kings!

Olive trees lived productive lives, bearing fruit even into their millennial years. Yes, some live to be a thousand years old!

Now we see the imagery the Psalmist was painting. Oh, how we want that too!

When you are young, there are far worse things to be compared to than an olive tree! We can claim this blessing today. We can pray it over our families, our churches, and our communities. “God please make the children like olive trees for You!”