I Want to Be a Willow

I want to be a willow that bends and does not break

For winds shall come against me to give more than I can take

I want to rise up straight and strongÝ to stand for the Lordís sake

I want to be a willow by the stream

I want to be a willow to send my roots deep down below

To seek the living water where it may be found to flow

I want to drink there deeply ëtilÝ Iím quenched and I will grow

I want to be a willow by the stream

For the willows roots are searching and the willowísÝ branch is strong

And a willow grows so quickly if it grows where it belongs

And my leaves they will not wither and Iíll reach up to the sky

And thereíll be a shady refugeÝ as my branches grow so high

The water Iíll take in will form a healthy fruitful branch

My leaves will thrive with life and my limbs will seem to dance

I will weep when it is worth it but Iíll never change my stance.

I want to be a willow by the stream.

May my roots stop the erosion of my planting place

Keep me anchored in the more sure groundÝ no matter what I face

May my branchesÝ reach out to the worldÝ and the winds of life embrace

I want to be a willowÝ by the stream.

For the willows roots are searching and the willowísÝ branch is strong

And a willow grows so quickly if it grows where it belongs

And my leaves they will not wither and Iíll reach up to the sky

And thereíll be a shady refugeÝ as my branches grow so high

Anthony Foster

September 16, 2006

Ý