Pruning

John 15:2-6 ~ 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. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.

My rose bush story is one that has given me new appreciation for God's patience with me. This little Rose Bush started off down by the road. I asked Chuck to transplant it to the house a few years ago. I got it a little trellis to grow on, and for 3 or 4 years it did nothing. Chuck and I both trimmed it back numerous times, but for 3-4 years we may have seen one rose. This past winter Chuck threatened to pull it up. So, one day as I was walking to the car, I looked at that bush and I said, "Okay God, it's going to be a goner this spring if we don't have any roses." A couple of weeks ago Chuck walked in the house and said, "Have you seen how many buds are on that rose bush?" I walked out and was amazed, because almost every branch had at least 4 to 10 buds on it. I have bragged to everybody who comes to our house about this rose bush, and now I need to brag on God! His patience with me is way more than my patience was for this little bush. He continuously prunes me and cuts back the parts of me that needs to change, because he knows the outcome is going to be as amazing to Him as this rose bush is to me! (2018 post)

<UPDATE> This rose bush didn't look so good this year! As I was creating this post I was thinking, "You know that rose bush didn't put on hardly any roses this year...why???" I didn't take care of it like I had in 2018. I haven't pruned it, watered it or even prayed over it. That is a picture of what my life is like when I don't spend the time I need to with God. Life tends to get in my way sometimes, and I get busy and ignore the pruning process. Pretty amazing the lessons I have learned from this little bush!!