Grow Where You're Planted

Consider the Roses: My husband bought 4 rose bushes for me this year and together we planted them under our bedroom window. They took root and began to grow, although they did not grow new blossoms after the original ones wilted and faded away. I asked my green thumb brother why this was. He said, "Cari, you have to trim them back for them to blossom."

So that night I stood there before them, scissors in hand. I looked at them, and felt badly -- here was a thing I had nursed and loved, worried, fussed over and cared about. And I was about to cut them back and take off the precious new growth that was so slow and steady in the making. It took courage, but I did it.

I stood back.

Within days all 4 bushes began to form beautiful blossoms, bigger than they had ever grown before. To this day, I will trim them after each round of blooms - causing them to thrive and grow and blossom larger and larger. I take small bouquets into work for my desk, and my dining room table has a perpetual centerpiece. They bring me joy. And whenever I see that one of the plants has slowed its growth, I grab my scissors.

Is this so different than when we are cut down and despite good, slow growth in a positive direction our courses change? We don't believe that a benevolent God would cut us back to grow us, but look at this lesson from nature: He cuts us back and changes our direction so we can blossom like never before. It takes courage and perspective to maintain this kind of Faith; but we must do it, knowing that God is the Master Gardener and His plan is that we not only grow but thrive where we are planted—even if we require a little pruning.