Why the Name "Sapling Birth"?

I chose the name Sapling Birth for my business as a reflection of the significant promises God gives us in Psalm 128. It speaks to the blessings a man will enjoy when he leads his family to walk in love and obedience to the Lord.

"You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table."

The analogy of a young olive sapling springing up with life around its father and mother's table is deeply impactful to me and my work as a childbirth educator. The psalmist's choice of olive shoots as the mental image is interesting because of several fascinating characteristics.

Young olive trees are legacies.
Olive trees live for an extremely long time. There are olive trees in existence today that have been scientifically dated at over 2,000 years old. You can plant an olive sapling knowing that it will likely be thriving for hundreds of years after you die, bringing all its benefits and beauty for centuries to come.

Olive shoots grow amidst destruction.
The strength of an olive tree's root system is so robust, even frost, fire and disease cannot destroy it. Although the part of the tree that's visible above the ground may seem to have perished, new shoots will quickly spring up from the roots.

Olive trees bear fruit for generations.
An olive tree bears fruit quickly, as soon as five years after planting. From there it can continue to produce prolifically for hundreds of years, providing generous harvests of healthy olives that can be used in countless ways to nourish the surrounding community.

As a birth instructor, I don't just seek to prepare couples for a confident, fearless childbirth experience although this is very important to me. I consider the core of my work to be supporting the creation of a precious new life, encouraging it to thrive and grow in health, and ultimately witnessing that new life choose to enter into a relationship with Jesus and bring glory to His name.

The words in Psalm 128 echo in my heart for not only my work but for my own family. Because I have placed my faith in Jesus, and as I trust my husband to lead our family to walk in His ways, I have eternal hope that the children we raise will plant a lasting legacy for God's kingdom, which will continue to grow prolifically despite the darkness in the world, and which will produce a bountiful harvest in sharing the Gospel message for generations to come.

I pray these blessings over my family constantly, and as a Christian birth worker I also pray them over yours:

"The Lord bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel!"