(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 daughter texted me and asked if I wanted to purchase any plants for my deck from her friend Shelly. Probably a good idea as I shelter in place another month, but I declined the offer. My grandmother Ada and her sister Esther both had green thumbs; flowers or vegetables, didn’t matter, whatever they planted it grew and produced bountifully. My father was a farmer and mother had a large garden that fed our family. I just don’t understand why my thumbs are not green. Sure, the tomatoes and peppers did okay in my garden but give me a flower or house plant and all I have to do is look at it and it wilts.
The attached photo is of school children attending the Lutheran school in Merrotte which is in the Arcahaie District and is about a mile North of the ocean. Behind the children is a plantain crop that is flourishing and will provide a wonderful harvest; it does every year. 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 much 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