Happy Father’s Day to all the wonderful fathers. We appreciate you and the love you pour into your children.
Lessons From My Friend
I was talking to a friend in my networking group, and he shared with me some of the things he needed to do for the summer. He lives on a decent acreage of land, and part of his job is maintaining the land. In the past, he had hired someone to care for it, providing all the supplies that were necessary. But even after all of that, for 15 years, the land was not properly cared for.
He has now been taking care of the land for the last three years and as much work and TLC he has been putting in, the land is still not at the place he would like it to be. He even mentioned hoping to have seen results more quickly.
He also shared about a Japanese tree he owned, that had been on the land for probably the last 50 years. He had taken care of it and allowed it to grow freely, but due to unforeseen circumstances, last year he had to completely prune it down.
By now you know I take me lessons from just about anything, and these were whole sermons by themselves.
Sometimes we go through situations that affect us for so long, they become deeply woven into who we are. Even when others come around and try to provide the TLC, because of how long the neglect has been, taking time to undo past hurts take a lot of time and patience for everyone involved.
And, the next lesson I heard as I listened: there are times that you have to prune what no longer serves you to be able to have healthy regrowth. I also see it in my neighbor’s fig tree. He completely cut it down after last season, and as I walked by yesterday, I saw healthy leaves. No fruit yet – but I know that with time, fruit will be there once again.
The verses that come to mind are: Galatians 6:9, NIV: “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” And John 15:2 NIV: He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for these powerful lessons. Thank you that you take time to pour your copious love on us – even though we are undeserving. Thank you for pruning us in love, so that we may re grow stronger and healthier than before.
