We have a new home that was finished in December.  A couple of months ago we had a patio poured and some evergreen trees planted on either side for privacy.  Our spring has been really windy and rainy.  The trees that we planted cannot be planted very deep because they will die.  The strong winds and rain came often and would blow several of the trees over and my husband would have to plant them over and over again.  This of course traumatized the trees.  They had brown limbs all over some of them.  Well if you know what type of tree I’m talking about the brown limbs are very prominent against the dark green.  I got really tired of looking at those dead limbs all over the trees. So… I got the hand pruners and began to clip all of the dead limbs off!  I got really clipper happy.  I was really proud of the accomplishment I made in making those trees look green all over.  Sunday afternoon my husband and I were sitting on the patio enjoying the birds, flowers and the cool breeze.  He questioned me on why the trees looked weird.  I didn’t notice it when I had finished pruning them.  So I said, “What’s wrong with them?”.  He said they were shaped funny.  Well…. I noticed it when he pointed it out that the trees... the trees were really misshapen.  They had huge caves in the sides of them!   I told him don’t worry, I fertilized them and the trees will regain shape in no time and will be very nice and green with new growth instead of dead brown limbs.

I begin to think about this scenario as we were sitting there and about how it is with our relationship with other people and God.  Sometimes we go through trials that causes trauma in our life.  It’s the ugly traits in our lives that makes us unattractive to people whether it be abuse, addictions, rejection, etc.  These trials can cause “ugly limbs” to grow on our lives called, anger, bitterness, violence, malice, filthy conversation or any other negative attitude toward others.   You know we can live that way and negatively affect people by those unsightly limbs or we can prune them with God’s Word and His Spirit.  John 6:63 says….the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.  God gave us His Word so that we would have instructions on how to remove those dead ugly traits.    Is it easy to cut those ugly limbs off?  Absolutely it is!  Does it hurt sometimes?  Sure it does!  We can remove those traits that have become a part of us by renewing our mind in the Word.  It doesn’t happen overnight but through consistent dedication and commitment to prayer and reading the Word.    More to come…. Be Blessed!