“(Jesus said) "He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful." John 15:2
My grandmother Ada and her sister Esther had green thumbs; flowers or vegetables, didn’t matter, whatever the Gerkensmeyer sisters planted; it grew. My father was a farmer and my mother had a large garden that fed our family. I don’t understand why my thumbs are not green. Instead of green thumbs, I got two sides of their arthritis in my genes. Sure, the tomatoes and cucumbers did okay last summer on my deck but give me a flower or plant and all I have to do is look at it and it wilts. Now this attached photo is of school children attending the Lutheran school in Merrotte which is in the Arcahaie District and is about a mile inland from the ocean. Behind the children is a plantain crop that is flourishing and will provide a wonderful harvest.
This is a meaningful photo as it ties into the scripture reading from John. We too are like a fruit tree; meant to bear fruit and we get pruned from time to time so that our lives will be more productive. The children attending this school are also like little fruit trees; being nurtured with God’s Word and a Trinity HOPE meal at noon, so they too will bear much fruit for the Kingdom.
These children and each of us receive pruning from time to time so that our lives can accomplish an abundance for our Heavenly Father. Thank you for sharing of your fruits with these children as they bring more souls from Haiti into the Kingdom.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay