Thursday, May 27, 2010

My dearest God,

I stood on a ladder reaching for high limbs. When I pulled them down, my husband cut them. The trees looked much better and gave more sun to a smaller tree.

Years ago we had a conflict about pruning. One of us did not want to make the cuts. The other of us knew that the hard knife would actually better the plants.

I have resisted your pruning tool in my own life. At times I have not wanted to be pruned, lopping off parts of my life. I have wanted to remain intact. Yet, time would prove that a seasonal pruning would have been good for me.

When I have allowed you to trim certain pieces of my life, I have always felt the severing pain. However, when I am circumspect, I can see where other parts of my life took off, blossoming in ways I could not have imagined. I was stronger, healthier and happier.

Great God,
thank you
for your
cutting power.
Thank you
for love
that is
behind each cut.
Thank you
for possibilities
that come
when you
trim unsightly elements
that hinder me
from living fully
in your
loving way.
Teach me,
O Lord,
I pray.

Love, Andrea