“ I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away; every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” John 15:1 (NKJV)
The once vibrant leaves and flowers were shriveled and dead. My neighbor and I stood looking at the tree in front of her home. A rare frost hit Bradenton, Florida, on January 31. Many plants and flowers in the area did not survive the onslaught of cold temperatures. My neighbor’s decision was to cut back the tree. Maybe it would come back to life. Looking at the shriveled up leaves, I was not too hopeful.
I thought back to the day three years ago when I moved into my home. After a long day of unpacking, I sat down on the sofa to relax. The window straight ahead looked out on my neighbor’s front yard. In the yard was a tree overflowing with beautiful yellow flowers. It was unique. It was breathtaking. And every day I had the joy of looking at this beautiful tree when I sat on my sofa.
I also remembered the day when I came home from errands and was in for a surprise. Gone were the beautiful yellow flowers and green leaves. Instead, I saw a tree trunk with stick-like branches projecting from it. What happened? My neighbor explained that she was having difficulty seeing when she backed out of the driveway, so she cut back the tree. She assured me that it would come back.
Not being a gardener, I was skeptical. But sure enough, in no time at all, tiny green leaves appeared and began to grow. Each day the leaves got bigger, and one day a tiny yellow flower appeared. Then another and another. Soon, the tree was overflowing with yellow flowers, more beautiful than ever.
During the last three years, I have had a front row seat to the life cycle of the tree. I watched it grow to the point where it obstructed the driveway. I have seen it cut back to a few bare branches. I have watched as, little by little, green leaves returned. I have watched as, one by one, yellow flowers appeared. I have watched the tree become full and beautiful again.
Our lives are a lot like that tree. Sometimes life is overflowing with good and beautiful things. Other times, all the beautiful things in life seem to be stripped away. Our lives then resemble an empty tree with stick-like branches.
What do we do when our lives resemble a barren tree? In John 15, Jesus compares His followers to branches on a vine. His Father, the Gardener, knows that trees need to be pruned, and He knows exactly when the pruning needs to be done. The immediate result is an ugly, empty tree. The wise Gardener knows that in time the leaves and flowers will return. When they do, the tree will be richer and more beautiful than ever. During the barren times, we need to remember that the Gardener of our lives is wiser than we are. Our good Heavenly Father loves us more than we can imagine. He promises that “all things work together for good to those who love God.” (Romans 8:28) The barren season of life is not forever. One day, life will be beautiful again.
You may be wondering what happened to the tree damaged by the frost. As I write this, six weeks have passed. I sit on my sofa and look out on a tree with healthy green leaves blowing in the breeze. The once dead-looking tree is coming back to life. It is only a matter of time before one yellow flower will return then another and another. I have complete confidence that one day the tree will be overflowing with yellow flowers, more beautiful than ever.
Lord, when the hard times of life come, may I have equal confidence that one day life will be full and good and beautiful again. Thank You for being the Gardener of my life.
