The Pruning

I have a plant in my house that I got when Justin passed away. Those who know me well know that it’s an absolute miracle from above that this plant has survived the last 5 years, yet there it sits on a table next to my sofa, still green somehow. Until recently, it had never once been pruned. I’m not one to know about keeping plants healthy, so watering it every once in a while has been the extent of my care. I figure if it’s still alive, I must be doing something at least halfway right.

A few weeks ago, I noticed it had a ridiculous number of dead leaves and stems, so I decided it was time to give it a good pruning. Not knowing the proper way to prune a plant, I did my best to pull out the stems that were barely hanging on and cut off the ones that were holding a little too tightly. The pruning made the plant a little smaller, but it looked way healthier, so I was pleased with my newly acquired pruning skills.

About a week or so later, I was walking past the table and noticed that the plant had a bloom. I didn’t remember it ever having a bloom– maybe it did in the beginning– and so was completely amazed. I knew it must have been the result of the pruning.

In that moment, I sensed the Lord’s presence and gentle reminder that sometimes in life He allows things to be “pruned.” Things that no longer serve me well. Things that distract me from my calling. Things that never should have been there in the first place. I sensed this because I had been going through a sort of pruning myself. A struggle against the realization that there were some things I needed to get rid of.

Sometimes it’s easy to understand the need for pruning, but other times it’s confusing and frustrating. The removal can be painful. I want to hold on tightly and not let go. But in those moments, I remind myself that I can track God’s faithfulness throughout the whole of my life, and I can trust Him. I can trust that if He allows the removal, it’s ultimately for my good. That there is something better in store. That He’ll be with me through the process, and that in just a little while, a beautiful bloom is going to appear. 🌸

Sitting in the tension of the pain of pruning and the beauty of the bloom.