Pruned Trees

Every Saturday morning, Richard awakens at the crack of dawn to begin doing yard work. Richard loves working in his yard and tending to his Garden. His yard is one of the most beautiful in all of his community; however, it was not always beautiful.

When Richard first bought his house, his yard needed major work. Richard was more into the house itself than he was the outside landscape. After buying the house, Richard’s ex-wife agreed to allow his son Tyler to spend every other weekend with him.

While growing up, Richard’s father was an excellent landscaper, and he taught Richard the ends and outs of creating and maintaining a beautiful yard. Being that Tyler had recently turned 10 years-old, Richard believed that this gave him an excellent opportunity to pass along his father’s lessons to Tyler.

When Tyler learned of his father’s plans, he was excited to learn about yard work. One of the things that Richard taught Tyler first was how to prune small trees and flower bushes. Richard gave Tyler a list of things to fetch from the garage to begin the lesson.

When Tyler returned to his Richard with all the equipment, Tyler noticed that a lot of the equipment was made to cut or remove. Tyler asked his father, “Dad, you’re not gonna cut these trees down are ya?” Richard replied, “No son. But there are parts of the tree that I will cut off and remove.” “Why would you do that dad? Wouldn’t that hurt the trees?” Richard smiled at Tyler. “Son, I know this probably won’t make a lot of sense to you now, but I’m gonna try and explain this to ya.”

“Tyler when trees grow, they do not always grow flawlessly. They sometimes need assistance for proper growth. Though I may cut a limb or branch here and there, it is necessary. Though it may hurt the tree temporarily, it helps the tree in the long run. For instance, look at this little tree here. It’s growing a lot more limbs on the left side than it is the right. Naturally, the tree has started to lean left and grow in that direction instead of up. To correct it, we’ll trim some of those limbs to help it grow straight up.”

As a couple years had gone by, Tyler had learned so much from his dad. The yard that was once an eye sore was now the best yard in the area. The trees and flower bushes that had been pruned by Tyler and his dad were now flourishing. The trees had grown a few feet, and the flowers were thriving with radiance and color. Tyler understood now why pruning was necessary for maintaining a healthy garden.

Brothers and sisters, we are like trees and flowers unto our Heavenly Father. We are born into a world of sin and imperfection. We do not always grow properly. There may be a situation, a job, friend, relative, intimate partner, or spouse, that serves as the excess limbs that causes erroneous growth to the left or right. Because GOD loves us, he will lend us a hand by cutting and removing those limbs that are of no use to our designed growth. Though it may hurt us temporarily, His plan is always designed to suit our best interests.

It never feels good to have things removed from our lives. As stated in previous writings, we lack the divine foresight of our Heavenly Father. When His plan for our lives comes full circle, He removes the darkness from our paths and reveals to us why His actions were necessary. Yes, He cut away those limbs, and yes it hurt. When it is all said and done, shout a Holy Praise, knowing that it was all worth it! Hallelujah today O’ GOD! These are the moments we truly learn to trust in Him as the almighty… Praise GOD for your pruning today! The hindering limbs and branches that have prevented your rightful elevation have been cut away.

Today’s Beacon of Light Scriptures:

1.       I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 

2.       Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, he takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit (John 15:1-2).

Today’s Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we do not always understand why you do things in our lives, but we trust and believe You to be our loving and just Father. We know that you act on our behalf when we grieve the loss of negativity and loved ones. May your will be done in our lives forevermore O’ Lord. In the name of Jesus, Amen…