John 15:1-8
If you've ever planted a garden of any kind you know the labor of love, patience, commitment of time, hard work, and all the nurturing that goes into it. You also know the waiting; watching as it sprouts up through the dirt, the ground and how the excitement begins as you watch the fruit of your labor grow and take shape into what it is to become. The excitement grows as you think about what you will do with the fruits, whether it be vegetables or flowers and you delight in this growth, pruning it along the way, watering it, keeping weeds and bugs off of it.
Our Father also delights in each one of us like this in the same way. He delights in watching us grow. He is committed and faithful to our vocations/ministry because he sees the bigger picture. His watering of love and mercy keeps us free of the junk that can try to stunt or stop our growth; it's the Sacraments and through daily prayer that this happens . Let us receive the graces contained in them with open arms so we can receive all that we need to be the beautiful fruit of the Father's labor.
Where is God wanting to prune you and why? Where are you cooperating and where are you not? Ask the Father to share with you what he sees when he looks at you and how he delights in your growth. Ask him how you are the fruit of his labor.
