To prune is cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems to increase fruitfulness and growth. Sounds kinda dumb to cut something to make it grow, but it is more about health than cutting away...
My family and I moved into our home in 2001. Although I am not a master of all things green, I have learned a lot about growing and maintaining plants. I have a small, yet beautiful raspberry bush in my side yard. Last year I noticed that it was beginning to spread beyond my limited space and there were many brown and crusty stems that were draining the health of the plants. I did a google search and learned how and when to prune my plants. I didn't realize how important pruning was until I saw the result this summer with a larger crop of sweet and juicy berries. When pruning this year I was careful to remove only what was needed. With berries that is the stems that produced fruit this year and any dead or damaged limbs. The ones that produced this year will not produce again, but the new branches that did not blossom this time will next year. In other words the new growth this year will be berries next year. After cutting away the necessary parts, I gently band together the remaining parts so they will be supported and protected through the winter. While I was working I could feel the presence of God using this simple task as a reminder to me of His work in us. There are times when it feels like our maker is overzealous in his trimmings, but we have to trust him to remove what needs to be taken away for our Spiritual growth. There are old and dry places that has to be trimmed away so it doesn't poison. He has to trim away old branches that no longer produce fruit so he can prepare us for the next gifts he plans to allow us to grow in the next season. I believe sometimes gifts are only for a season. If the used up portions are not trimmed away, we will find ourselves hanging onto and trying to work a gift that is no longer inspired by God. We exhaust ourselves trying to hang onto what is comfortable rather than letting go and letting God move us into position for something that is beneficial for us and others around us. Then, there is the fruit we were created to bear. If we allow Him to work for our good. Allowing him to trim and bind up our branches, then and only then will the harvest be rich and plentiful...
My life has improved greatly since I put down my shears, stood still and allowed God to use his to remove the decayed branches and used up blossoms....I find myself grabbing a dead branch and I immediately feel His love and freedom and I am gently instructed to let it go. It could be a long winter ahead as His work takes place in me. But I am excited and I am looking forward to Spring. I want see my new growth and and changes He makes possible. Then, in the summer, new gifts will begin to blossom and I will see His fruit in me appear. I am ready for this journey...
No comments:
Post a Comment