It helps me to think about painful rejections, moments of loneliness, feelings of inner darkness and despair, and lack of support and human affection as God’s pruning. I am aware that I might have settled too soon for the few fruits that I can recognize in my life. I might say, Well, I am doing some good here and there, and I should be grateful for and content with the little good I do. But that might be false modesty and even a form of spiritual laziness.
God calls me to more. God wants to prune me. A pruned vine does not look beautiful, but during harvest time it produces much fruit. The great challenge is to continue to recognize God’s pruning hand in my life. Then I can avoid resentment and depression and become even more grateful that I am called upon to bear even more fruit than I thought I could. Suffering then becomes a way of purification and allows me to rejoice in its fruits with deep gratitude and without pride.
--Henri Nouwen
Image source 1: https://blog.jordanwinery.com/how-to-prune-grape-vines/
Image source 2: https://aviancontrolinc.com/bird-control-vineyards/
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Image source 2: https://aviancontrolinc.com/bird-control-vineyards/
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