Feeling Pruned

Not like this: Like this: I'm sure when a bush sees her gardener approaching with a pair of long, sharp, shears, she isn't thinking, "Oh. Good. I can't wait to lose some of my precious branches that I've worked so hard to grow. Looks like fun. Snippety-snip."

On the contrary.

"Excuse me? What do you think you're gonna do with those things??!!!! Please don't come a step further. Ok. Let's make a deal. Uh, I promise not to grow so unruly anymore. I'll grow in whatever shape you want me to. My branches will behave. I promise. Please! Don't cut me!! AAAACCCCKKK! *shrieks in pain*"

I am that bush.

As my Gardener approaches, I make deals. I make promises. I swear I'll change. But the fact is, pain is a good, no, a great teacher. It's not too often that I can look at other people's mistakes and think, "Oh. Good. Now I know *not* to do that." Usually, I have to learn those lessons for myself. And once those branches start growing in the wrong direction, it is unlikely that they will be able to change course.

For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Romans 7:19

The Gardener loves me so much, that even though He knows it will hurt, He wants me to produce more and better fruit. He wants me to be healthy. He needs to cut away those dead or diseased branches that I no longer need or are a danger to me. {Why do I cling to them so tightly?} The Gardener only wants what is best for the bush, sometimes snipping a little here and there, sometimes making large cuts in lots of areas. This pain teaches. This pain conforms me to the Gardener's design.

I. Am. Pruned.

I believe I am drawing nearer to the day when I will be able to embrace those pruning shears. And I pray the same for you.

Do you embrace the shears?



P.S. For more deep thoughts, see a previous post Sometimes I Pickle Him :>)