Removing The Thorns Of Life

I spent the better part of this morning working on a client’s “low maintenance” yard.  As I was pruning branches and cleaning out the dead matter from under their lavender plants I began to realize how plants are a lot like us humans.  From there I moved on to another row of bushes with thorns up to an inch long and my thoughts of the comparison increased.

Many people, like plants, also carry around old dead branches and other rotting debris from their past with them.  Then there are those who have built up self defense mechanisms, sort of like thorns, so as to protect themselves from getting run over or hurt again by others.  At times these people are not too fun to be around.  They may be family members, neighbors, school mates, part of the staff at work, fellow church members or even close friends.  These people, like the plants that I worked on today, need to have the decay and/or the ungainly scars of their past removed in order to live a healthier, more productive life.  In the book of John the Father God is spoken of as the one who takes care of the garden of our lives.  It says that “He removes every one of my branches that does not produce fruit.  He also prunes every branch that does produce fruit to make it produce more fruit.”  (John 15:2 Gods Word ©)

We are God’s hands in this world and at times, He will may call on us to help the hurting people we know.  This is not always pleasant work, and may be distasteful to us.  It is not very fun to be around someone who doesn’t seem to want your help and/or may be critical of you in your attempts to reach out to them.  (After working around those bushes and thorns today, my arms look like they were attacked by an alley cat!)  This is where love comes in.  These are the occasions when we have to put our own comfort aside in order to help another remove the scars of hurt that have marked their lives.  Know also that the healing process may take time so be prepared, be gentle and be sensitive.  Do you homework with them.  Don’t automatically think that you know what they’ve been through.  Hear them out and then carefully help them to let go of the pain and replace it with the love of God and your endearing friendship to them.  Stay tuned and keep asking yourself…”What are you expecting today?”