We’ve been hacking away at this grape vine for weeks; so much extra growth just taking off and looking shaggy. It’s healthier this year than ever before. It’s been sending up new foliage and little tendrils that wrap around anything and everything within reach.
I planted this single grape vine about 3 years ago. Who knew it would mature and produce so abundantly?
Watching this vine grow new beautiful foliage, spread its branches and bear fruit has reminded me to keep a watchful eye for the extra. The unnecessary in need of pruning. All the distractions in life that might seem attractive, but offer no real value in furthering who we are to become in God’s eyes. All the extra worry, the self doubt, judgmental thoughts, idle chatter. Choices and time spent unwisely.
Allowing ourselves to give thought and time to all that zaps our energy yet reaps little benefit takes energy and purpose away from that which was meant to bear good fruit.
Years ago when my kids were much younger, I had a small Sunday School group of children come to visit my greenhouse. I explained how I started lots of new plants from the cuttings of larger, healthy ones. I showed them how important it was to remove most of the leaves to redirect the plant’s energy into producing a strong root system. If the leaves remained on the stem, the root structure would suffer.
The garden holds many life lessons for me. A few minutes spent deadheading, planting or watching the fish in my little pond centers me and speaks to my soul. It keeps me humble and at peace. It reminds me of tending the garden with my grandmother when I was young, and I think of the lessons she, too must have learned along the way. How we’re to keep our eyes on God, listen and follow his direction, so ultimately, that which is meant to bear fruit…will.
16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.
(Matt. 7:16-18) NIV
Be blessed today and always,
Debbie
