Over the last year I have been through a significant season of involuntary pruning.  I have never experienced anything like it, nor did I realize what was going on until I was coming out of it.  In fact, I’m not sure I would have recognized it had I not had an example laid out for me years ahead of time in nature. 

The first house my husband and I bought had two peach trees.  The first year both trees bore fruit.  We were so excited to eat peaches from our very own trees!  When it was time, we picked some of the fruit to eat.  What we found was, though we had a significant amount of peaches, they all were small with very little meat.  We sadly determined they were not worth eating.

I began reading about what needed to happen in order to prune the trees properly.  At the appropriate time I cut off about 30% of the branches.  My husband was quite alarmed!  I can still hear him, “What did you do to the trees!?”  I assured him that I had done exactly what was needed.  But only time would prove if I had killed the trees or helped them mature.

One part of pruning that I had not considered was thinning.  As the tree develops fruit, frequently there are peaches growing in close proximity.  Naturally, most would think, “Yay! More peaches!”  But this is not good for growing big, juicy peaches.  Once the fruit grew to be a bit bigger than golf balls I plucked off excess peaches so that each peach was at least six inches away from any other peach.  This was difficult to do!  I kept thinking to myself, “These are perfectly good peaches.  Not only that, but which one do I remove?”  It seemed wrong to remove maturing fruit that was healthy and good just because it was too close to another peach.

That year we had the biggest, juiciest peaches I have ever tasted.  They were wonderful!  Not only did we have enough to snack on right off the tree, but we made all kinds of peach dishes and had plenty to share with friends and family.  Everyone enjoyed the fruit and asked for more.  Not only that, but I would go out just to stand under the tree because it smelled so good! 

Our lives are much like peach trees.  We only have so much sap to nurture fruit.  Fruit comes naturally.  Many of us, including myself, have spread ourselves too thin.  Have you ever thought about that saying, “spread too thin?”  Picture a piece of jelly toast or a cracker with a yummy spread.  If the topping is spread too thin, can you even taste it?  What’s the point?  If I’m going to have a piece of toast or a snack, I like it spread on nice and thick so I can taste and enjoy it.  Then I’ll want another!  After all, who wants a second piece of nearly dry toast?

Our culture drives us to spread ourselves too thin.  I sincerely believe this is a tactic of the enemy in order to distract us and render us ineffectual.  Many of us need to learn how to say no.  Some of us need to say yes.  Others need to say no to one thing and say yes to another.  Saying no is difficult to do, especially if it is to something good.  But remember, you only have so much sap – time and ability.  You must prayerfully consider how to invest it.  Careful consideration is important; not only because we want to bear big, juicy peaches for all to enjoy and to be fragrant to those around us, but also because within the fruit is the seed – our legacy. 

Ponder these verses this week.  I would suggest reading one each day in the morning and reflect on it throughout the day. (Click on passage for link)
– Philippians 1:9-11
– John 15:1-17 (note: the Greek for prunes also means cleans.)
– Psalm 92:12-15
– Galatians 5:22-26 (note: the Greek for fruit here is singular.  These are examples of the very character of God.  We cannot conjure these but they are a gift from God.)
– Ephesians 5:8-20

I’d love for you to share your thoughts and experiences with me (now that the comment section should be working properly!). Please don’t read and leave, but take a bit of time to be in community with me.  I learn more about how God works through your experiences.  Please share your cookies, or should I say peach cobbler!
– What have you learned throughout your life about pruning or thinning?
– Have you experienced a time when you voluntarily pruned, God pruned you, or both?
– For you, what is the most difficult or easiest aspect of pruning?

Originally posted November 12, 2018.