Midweek: Growth

The following was written by Susanna Foth Aughtmon, and printed in Guideposts' Mornings with Jesus, May/ June 2023:

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ~ John 15:2

My neighbor Heidi recently took a new job at a gardening center and is now on a mission to rescue plants in need of a little TLC. She knows I have a green thumb, and yesterday she gave me a needy salvia plant to see if I could save it.

Salvia usually has perky green leaves and bright purple flower spikes, but part of this one was wilted, and the other part had turned crispy brown. After a good soak in the kitchen sink overnight, I gently cut away the dead leaves and charred blossoms. Water, sunlight, and nutrients from the soil could now work toward restoration.

Jesus does the same with me. When areas of my life are not thriving or growing the way they should, He removes or cuts them back. Often this feels devastating. Pruning sometimes comes in the form of a job loss, enduring family issues, divorce, financial ruin, health scares, a desperate diagnosis, or even the death of a loved one. While Jesus doesn't necessarily cause painful events, He often uses them to prune me and help me grow past my selfishness, pride, coveting, bitterness, and self-sufficiency. Jesus prunes me because He loves me. He wants me to grow and flourish in Him --and for Him.

Just as I dramatically cut back the salvia to help it grow, the Master Gardener is always working in my best interest to help me grow too.

~ Susanna Forth Aughtmon