07/01/2026
This morning I found myself looking my tomato’s and thinking about how much they remind me of the work the Lord does in our own hearts.
A garden left untouched will grow wild. Vines stretch in every direction, leaves become crowded, and energy gets spent on growth that may never produce fruit. Sometimes the gardener has to gently cut back what is unnecessary so the plant can become stronger and bear more.
🙋♀️ Ope
The Lord lovingly prunes away the things that distract us, the habits that don’t produce good fruit, the things that take our attention away from Him. The pruning can feel uncomfortable, but it is never without purpose.
And as parents, we get to participate in that work with our children. We prune… not by breaking their spirit, but by guiding them. Teaching patience. Correcting selfishness. Cultivating kindness, humility, obedience, and love. We remove the weeds so their hearts have room to grow.
A good gardener doesn’t prune because he dislikes the plant. He prunes because he sees what it can become.
“Every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” — John 15:2
May we be willing to let the Lord tend our hearts, our homes, and our families. May we trust His hands even when the cutting back feels hard because He is always preparing us to bear better fruit. 🍃
AbideInHim
