Pruning

Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. (Jn 15:2 AMP)


This spring, the trees in the area got a severe pruning. Pruning happens every year, but it seems this year was the first year for most trees to go through the process. And man, does it look painful. And ugly.

Some are left with one lonely twig sticking out their hacked off tops. In the spring, these trees seemed like a visual reminder of the season I was in- all non-fruit bearing branches, cut away...and fruit-bearing branches, cleansed and repeatedly pruned. The trees looked lifeless.


I wish I'd taken pictures of these trees as they continued to grow. Green puffs of leaves soon grew out the tops, and later these trees looked like funny lollipops, or Dr. Seuss trees. Now, they are full umbrella-looking trees (which is what they're supposed to look like). They are alive & well.


And even pruned, they looked better than these trees:

In case you can't tell, those are fake flowers taped onto the lower half of a tree. And white Christmas lights randomly thrown (like you would with toilet paper) into the tree.

I think it's better to just embrace the pruning. And wait for the "more excellent" stuff.