I spent the afternoon working in my yard yesterday. Several of the bushes and trees were in desperate need of pruning. It’s not my favorite gardening activity, but it is necessary to maintain the health and productivity of the plants.

My husband, perched on a branch high up in the plum tree, was carefully looking for branches that needed to be removed. Occasionally he would ask for my opinion before making the necessary cuts. We talked about which branches had been more productive last year and what kind of harvest we might expect for this season. As we were working, I began to contemplate the pruning process that has been happening in my own life.

Prune- v. 1. To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, for example) to improve shape or growth. 2. To remove or cut out as superfluous. 3. To reduce. 4. To remove what is superfluous or undesirable.

Just when I think I can’t possibly have anything more “cut out” of me, something else is removed. An attitude I’ve been justifying, a selfish desire, possessions I “need”, unhealthy relationships… My heart cried out to God, “Are we almost done?” I’m beginning to feel like the vine in my front yard that has to be cut back almost to the roots each year.

However, that vine does grow at an amazing pace and has the most beautiful blooms… I guess I just have to be patient while the Vinedresser does His work. Watch out- if the pruning process is any indication of the growth and harvest to come, then I will be overflowing with abundance!

Better to be pruned to grow than cut up to burn. –John Trapp