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Pruned life flowers

Flowers have always been a source of joy and fascination for me. Lately, I find myself surrounded by them more often, and the experience has led me to contemplate their significance beyond their aesthetic beauty. In my reflection, I realized that flowers, like us, undergo a process of transformation through pruning.


One of the main reasons I love flowers is because they are naturally beautiful. They have the ability to brighten up our mood, bring smiles to our faces, and encourage a sense of wonder. Have you ever thought about what goes into creating those beautiful floral arrangements?


Pruning, in the context of flowers, involves the careful and deliberate act of cutting, plucking, and shaping the blooms. It is a process that may seem harsh, but it serves a greater purpose - to enhance the flowers' appearance and longevity. Flowers don't start out in their most beautiful state. They go through a journey of growth and development to reach their ultimate beauty. In a way, we are much like these flowers, being pruned by God as He cuts away what isn't needed to transform us into beautiful bouquets. Let’s explore the process of pruning flowers and its parallel similarities to how we are pruned by our heavenly father


Deadheading:

The process of removing dead flowers from the plant. This helps redirect the plant's energy away from seed production and encourages new growth and continuous blooming. By deadheading, you can prolong the flowering period of the plant.

  • In a spiritual sense, deadheading can be correlated to the process of letting go of past sins, regrets, and burdens. Just as removing dead flowers redirects the plant's energy towards new growth, releasing our past mistakes allows us to focus on spiritual renewal and continuous growth.

Pinching:

A simple form of pruning where the tips of young stems are gently pinched off with fingers or pruners. This method encourages branching and results in a fuller, bushier plant with more flowers.

  • Pinching can be compared to God's gentle nudges in our lives, guiding us towards His will and purpose. Just as pinching encourages branching and a fuller plant, God's direction leads us to new opportunities and more abundant life in Him.

Cutting Back:

Involves trimming back the entire plant to a certain height or shape. This is often done in the late winter or early spring to promote new growth and rejuvenate the plant.

  • The act of cutting back can be seen as God's way of refining us and removing the things that hinder our spiritual progress. Sometimes, we need to let go of certain aspects of our lives to make room for fresh growth and renewal.

Thinning:

The removal of entire stems or branches from the plant. It helps reduce overcrowding and allows better air circulation, which can prevent diseases and improve the overall health of the plant.

  • Thinning can symbolize the need for spiritual discernment in our relationships and commitments. Removing overcrowded or unhealthy influences allows us to focus on God's truth and maintain a healthier, more vibrant spiritual life.

Renewal Pruning:

Some flowering shrubs benefit from renewal pruning, which involves cutting back older, woody stems close to the ground. This encourages the growth of new, vigorous stems that will produce more flowers.

  • Renewal pruning is similar to God's transformational work in our lives. Just as cutting back old, woody stems promotes the growth of new ones, God's grace can renew our hearts, giving us a fresh start and a brighter future.

Shaping:

Done to maintain a specific shape or size of the plant. This is common for hedges or topiaries, where the plant is pruned to form a particular geometric shape or design.

  • Shaping pruning reflects the idea of God's guidance in forming our character and molding us into His image. He desires to shape us into vessels of love, compassion, and righteousness.

Training:

Training involves guiding the growth of a plant along a support structure, such as a trellis or gazebo, to create a desired form or pattern.

  • Training plants to grow along a support structure draws parallels to God's training and discipline in our lives. He uses various experiences and teachings to lead us in the right direction, helping us mature and bear fruit for His kingdom.

Comparing ourselves to flowers being crafted into beautiful arrangements, we acknowledge that God plays the role of the master pruner in our lives. He lovingly removes what doesn't align with His image, shaping us into the best version of ourselves.


Though flowers may not "feel" the pain of pruning, we, as humans, experience the process deeply. It can be an aggressive and challenging experience, as God addresses our weaknesses and areas that need growth.


Embracing pruning means embracing the process of development, even if it hurts. We have to yield to being tested, poked, and triggered, knowing that God is not finished with us yet. It's essential to trust that God has a purpose for our pain and that He is shaping us into something more beautiful. Through pruning, we discover our true potential and the beauty that lies within us. Just as flowers reach their full grandeur after being pruned, we, too, find our purpose and shine brightly in God's image.


Pruning hurts, there's no denying that fact. But just like flowers transformed into stunning bouquets, we are being shaped and developed into something remarkable by the hands of a loving and skilled gardener - God. So, lets yield to the process, embrace the pain, and trust that the outcome will be nothing short of breathtaking.


Pray with me


Father we thank You for you unending commitment to your children. Help us to never forget that you love and care for us. Today, we are reminded of how Your divine hand prunes and shapes us, just like a skilled gardener tends to a garden. Lord, we recognize that the process of pruning can be painful and challenging, but is necessary. We give you permission to cut away any part of us that does not look like you. We choose to yield to Your loving touch, even with the discomfort and difficulties that come with it. Remind us when it gets tough that through it you are refining us into more beautiful reflections of Your image. We trust that You have a purpose for every trial and pain we face. We know that emerge from this process as beautiful bouquets, shining brightly in Your image, inside and out. Let our lives be a testament of Your glory and grace, drawing others to Your unfailing love.


In Jesus name, amen.



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