Monday, March 4, 2019

TIM Good morning, I’m Tim Wise, Senior Adult Minister and Sanctuary Choir Director at Central. Are you a gardener or enjoy working with plants? If so, you understand how needy plants can be. They need water and sun and pruning but in specific amounts. Too much water can ruin a plant and not enough sun can cause it to wilt. Pruning is an especially important element of gardening. Trimming away the dead leaves and unhealthy parts of the plant help the plant grow and stay healthy. This is also a reality in our lives sometimes. Because God loves us, he may prune parts of our lives away. This may come as a job loss, relationship, or relocation to a new part of the world. It may happen during a convenient time or a time of adversity. However, we must remember that during those times, they are only there for our benefit. We may not always recognize or understand the benefit immediately, but in time, we will heal and grow from it. It makes us healthier and allows us to grow and produce more fruit. Pruning is sometimes painful, but it allows us to live a more fruitful life. With God, pruning gives us life and hope.