Am I in Need of Pruning?

I love my trees. I have several in my backyard and front yard. One in the front yard is barely hanging on and has been this way for several years. I have had parts of it cut off but have not been able to come to the realization that it will one day be no more. Sadly, this may be the last year for it.

Meanwhile, in my backyard, I have planted several new trees. Ok, seven of them along with two Colorado spruces and one cypress evergreen. Yeah, I love trees.

Three of my new trees

While walking my yard, I came upon my baby willow tree. Its really not much of a baby anymore. It has been in the ground for three years now. It has fell over three times as well. Of course, I planted it and apparently not very well. I have had it replanted and staked multiple times.

When my poor tree in the back corner got massacred, I had an arborist come out to look at it. I took the opportunity to ask him about my baby willow. I have been wanting to have it re-staked due to its growth. He was in agreement and recommended cutting off some lower branches. I didn’t think about it much then but agreed.

When the team came out to work on my little tree, again, no longer little but more like 20 feet tall, they staked the tree and left it at that. I came out to check the job and I asked about the trimming of the branches. The young man knew nothing about cutting the lower branches.

I looked at my tree and thought about it. The branches were no more than 2 foot off the ground on two sides and the other sides were about 3 foot off the ground. I asked him, “will these ever get any taller?” He replied, “No, they will always be at the same height.”

Pruned branches

I thought about it. In a way, it was nice because it gave covering to the ground and backyard. Then again, they would always be in the way of mowing and trimming. They would place extra weight on the tree and block the view to the back yard. Pros and cons were before me and here was the dilemma. Do I have him prune the lower branches or do I leave them?

After a few moments thought, I had him remove the lower four branches. I immediately felt guilty. They could never be put back on. I felt like I hurt the tree. The arborist assured me the tree would be just fine, they do it all the time. But I felt guilt.

This little weeping willow had gone through so much in its past three years and here I am yanking on it, putting in new and deeper stakes to hold it upright, and cutting off branches. All of this was for the good of the tree. It would make it stronger in the future and give it the ability to endure. Yet, there was pain involved now.

Pruning produces growth. It removes the unwanted. Done properly, it has several great benefits to it. That made me think, here I am directing and giving permission to this man to prune my tree in order to make it better. But what about my own life? Are there areas in my life that need pruned or shaped?

My life has gotten pretty much out of control over the past years. Caring for parents, working full time, school, caring for the house and finances for the entire family. A lot of things have gotten out of control including me. My thoughts, my prayer life, my mouth, my anger, my behaviors. I could really use a good pruning in many areas, and it is not going to feel good.

As I look at my own life, I wondered how many times I would have to endure pain and suffering from pruning in my life. What was the end result of those times? Obviously, they were not permanent because, here I sit, all fluffed out and in need of a major trim, overhaul. Maybe you have experienced something like this yourself?

So, what does God’s Word say about this? John 15:2 tells us, “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.”

God uses other examples that show how He shapes us.. There is the example of molding clay and refining through fire and pressure. Check out Jeremiah 18:3-4, 1 Peter 1:7, and Psalm 66:10-12. These are all examples of God creating us into who He wants us to be.

Being pruned, refined, pressed, crushed, broken, and molded is never a fun experience. Just as anyone who has been there. You probably have some examples yourself. But the product, the outcome, is most times better than one could ever believe. But the fact is, it hurts. It’s a process that sometimes occurs over a short period, quickly, like pulling off a band aid or it is a long and slow process. One that can make us feel like we will never survive the process.

Sometimes, people feel that they are all alone in the pruning, breaking, molding, and refining process. But you are not! We all go through it. We are just at various stages and times in our growth and trials. We each experience different events that shape and grow us. We are not all the same and God does not treat us the same. We are unique in His eyes. His plans for us are all different.

But it is good for us to share with one another our trials, experiences, and journeys. When we do this, we know we are not alone. So, I am inviting you to share here some of the things God has used to mold you. I will share with you one of mine next time.

Peace,

Janet