Something Greater

Sunday, September 18, 2011 Posted by Sara

I sat patiently on the rod iron bench in the middle of the garden, waiting. It wasn’t long before the whistling alerted me to His arrival. At the edge of the garden, the little gate swung open, and in He walked with a bucket in one hand and a pair of pruning scissors in the other.

“Good Morning!” He greeted joyfully.

“Good Morning, Papa,” I returned.

“Come for the show?”

I nodded.

“Follow Me, then,” He winked.

I followed Papa to a row of rose bushes. From end to end, each bush was covered in large blossoms. Their sweet fragrance lured me closer as I admired the variance of colors. And then I heard it.

Snip. Snip. Snip.

At the very end of the row, Papa was pruning the roses. One by one, I saw the bountiful flowers tumble down to the ground as the bush lost its luster. My eyes grew wide.

“Papa! These roses were perfect – why are you cutting them all off?”

I had interrupted His whistling. “There is potential for so much more,” He said. “You see what is, I see what could be. These flowers have proven themselves fruitful, so I know greater beauty lies within.”

“But what you are cutting off was already so beautiful.” This is what hurts, I thought, when You cut away those things I thought were working, the things I thought I was doing right.

Noting my teary eyes, He placed his tools down, and approached with open arms. I hid my eyes on His shoulder.

“This is my love,” He spoke softly, stroking my head, “because something greater lies within.”

“…he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.” John 15:2 (NLT)