Pruning

Roses have given me such a picture of God’s grace, kindness, and mercy in my life these past few months. The beauty of the color and intricate details of each bloom display God’s attention to detail and yet His majestic power over all creation. I have absolutely no experience or knowledge of gardening. So when I moved here to find these beautiful roses to care for I was overwhelmed. How am I going to keep my people and pets alive and now flowers? I was told by my Ethiopian friend that I needed to cut them and trim them. I was so afraid that if I didn’t do it right I would kill these strong yet delicate plants. I looked on YouTube and proceeded to cut and trim around the thorns and dead leaves. Every once in a while I would get stuck by thorns and then the next second find a new bloom. I cut and cut. It was sad to see all the pieces I had cut off. But then after about a week or so I started to see new growth. Then I began to watch. Next, I could see tiny new blooms. In many places, there were 3 or 4 blooms on one stem. That is 3 or 4 times more than before! Now that the rainy season is about to begin; it is time to really cut the rose bushes and plant them in a new spot. And after we cut them and replanted them, the original plant looks sad and small. The new ones look even worse!! I asked my Ethiopian friends about the ones that looked wilted and almost dead. I thought I have killed the new ones and old ones, but they kept telling me, do not worry. It will be fine! It will grow!! No problem (in Ethiopia, they say that a lot). They just need time and water!!

Now even as I write the analogy seems so clear!!! God is pruning away what we don’t need to allow for new growth like my idols of comfort and ease are being trimmed. God has picked us up out of our comfort of what was familiar and planted us in a new fertile ground. I think at times what have we done to our boys? Taking them from the familiar to a new country? As parents, we often feel that way when we discipline our children that it is painful but for their good. But when you move your children to a new culture you really feel that same way like 100 times more. It takes time and water! At moments it seems we will not grow here- we are feeling so tired, stomachs hurting, missing family, missing familiar food, missing familiar ways of shopping for food, wrestling with how to help in a way that is helpful, not hurtful, just aching at times for the poor who live right outside our door, joining a new church family, desiring to minister to and strengthen the church here. But God has been so merciful and watered us with so many gifts here. He has poured His hope and His goodness all over us. The people and relationships here are so vital to our survival here. The church has welcomed us with open arms and prayed for us faithfully and encouraged us in so many ways with smiles and welcomes. People have served us in so many ways from big things like moving our things, to making a meal, to just visiting and offering directions. Our boys go to a school where all the teachers and staff are here to proclaim the gospel and glorify God in all the nations. We love seeing the life here, horses in the road, goats and sheep, flowers. Every day is an adventure in learning a new language or a new way to cook or shop.

Jesus talks of HImself as the living water in John 4. He gives us life. He is all we need. His grace is sufficient ( 2 Corinthians 12:9). He will trim and prune us for our good and His glory. (John 15:2). It just takes time and water.