Summary: "Mom! What are you doing?" exclaimed Brandon when he arrived home from the park and saw his mother standing beside a bush in the backyard. There were branches in a wheelbarrow and on the grass all around the bush. "Those are the bushes I helped you plant, remember?" asked Brandon. "I like them. Don't cut them down!" Mom laughed. "Don't worry. I'm just pruning them," she replied. After snipping another branch, she stepped back to survey her work. "These bushes are getting tall, Brandon, but they're not filling in near the ground. If I lop off their tops, they'll fill in down low, too--not just grow taller." "They will?" asked Brandon. He stooped to pick up a couple of branches. "Like those on the other side of the yard?" "Exactly," Mom agreed. "Those are almost like a wall. They keep your little sisters inside the yard and keep other people out." Mom held up the tool she was using. "Haven't you seen me use this before? It's a pruning shears." Brandon glanced at it. "Yeah, I think I did see you cut some other stuff with that," he said. "Last Sunday Pastor Hunt talked about pruning," said Mom. "It reminded me that I needed to do some pruning in the yard." "Pastor Hunt said God prunes us, didn't he?" asked Brandon. Mom nodded. "Right. I'm glad you were listening," she said. "Sometimes God cuts away attitudes and activities and possessions to help us grow the way we should." Brandon looked at the shears again. "Do you think that's why I got cut from the baseball team?" he asked. "Dad said maybe that happened so I wouldn't have to skip our Friday night youth group because of ball practice." "Could be," said Mom. "I know you were disappointed, but God must know it's better for you to be part of youth group this year." "Well, I've been wanting to invite Tommy, and I couldn't do that if I wasn't going myself," replied Brandon thoughtfully. "Hey . . . can I go over to his house and ask him about it now?" "Sure," said Mom, "as soon as you empty this wheelbarrow for me." How About You? Is God cutting something out of your schedule? Is He using a teacher to remove laziness and disorganization from your life? Has He allowed one of your possessions to be stolen or to wear out? Pruning may be painful at times, but submit willingly. God does nothing to hurt you. He wants to help you become a happier person as you learn to trust Him in all circumstances. Today's Key Verse: Every branch that bears fruit He (God) prunes, that it may bear more fruit. (John 15:2) Today's Key Thought: God prunes to improve
