Friday, June 15, 2012

I CAN'T SEE THE FOREST

While we were away someone cut the grass and took care of the house. However, I didn't realize how quickly our flowers and bushes grow. During the seven weeks we were away they went crazy. In fact, we had trouble walking to the front door.
I armed myself with clippers and those lopper things or whatever you call them and headed out front. My husband yelled, "what are you doing? Those bushes are beautiful. You'll kill them."
I don't think so honey. I worked for about three hours chopping and pruning and clearing a path to the front door. When he came home from golf he was amazed.
During that time of pruning, I realized how much like the bushes my own life is. How many times the Lord has put His hands on His hips and said, "oh my, I need to prune you."
As I cleared the path I exposed a small flower which had become completely hidden. And also not able to grow because it no longer received any sun light.
Just like me, I'm not able to grow either if I don't receive any "Son" light.
Ahhhhh, keep pruning Lord, in spite of my protests.
I Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 

4 comments:

Carol J. Garvin said...

Great analogy, Katt (and I do love analogies). The gardener in me knows that pruning can accomplish good things. Getting rid of diseased and broken branches is easy, but cutting away the healthy, lush growth always makes me hesitate before the first cut, wondering if it's the right thing to do. The writer in me can't help comparing the analogy to revision and editing, too -- cutting out the weak or useless words and scenes that I sometimes hate to lose. When God prunes me I know I'll end up stronger, more useful to Him, but boy, do I seem to cling to my old ways. Why is it that we're so reluctant to face change??? ;)

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

I'm like you Carol, a little reluctant. However these bushes are ones that thrive when I trim them back. In fact the more I prune the more they grow. It's almost like they are challenging ME. ha ha!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I love that analogy. It's perfect. But I still yearn to see pics of your path. I'm so G L A D you're back!

Kathryn Neff Perry, PhD, MA, LMHC said...

I'm so glad to be back Joy. At times I felt like we would never be home again. At first I tried to keep everything organized in the car. The last two weeks, I just opened one of the doors and tossed stuff inside. Knowing when we DID get home, I'd find it!
Hugs
Katt