These azaleas definitely need pruning, but timing is everything.
My hubby and I were doing some much needed yard work last weekend and we pruned some holly bushes way back. We had allowed them to begin taking over our driveway. What once were nice little evergreen bushes, had gotten completely out of hand. They are seriously ugly now, but they will come back with a little time.
After we were done with the holly bushes, I saw my hubby eyeing the azaleas in front of our house. They too, are seriously out of control, but there is a right time to prune azaleas and that isn’t now. Azaleas can only be trimmed right after they bloom. If you trim them any other time, then you have to go a year without the flowers.
Since Easter is only a couple of weeks away, no way was I willing to sacrifice all of those gorgeous pink blooms. The problem is that we always miss the ideal window to prune them and so they are way too big. He grumbled, but agreed to wait.
If we prune at the wrong time, we miss the blooms.
I thought about how important pruning is to keep plants healthy. I thought how important it is to prune the bushes in the front of our house to keep them inviting and beautiful and not scraggly. Not to mention that not pruning them creates a good place for unwanted critters to hide. I want the bushes out in front of my house to welcome people inside, not scare them away.
Jesus talked to His disciples about God’s pruning. He told them, “I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener. 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 15:1-2
What does that mean?
Maybe it means that when we submit our lives to God, He gets rid of all the unfruitful stuff, that we don’t need or that separates us from Him. Everybody’s unfruitful branches look different, but I suspect things like gossip, jealousy, unforgiveness and anger might make the cut. He doesn’t want to leave any places for unwanted critters to hide. But, God doesn’t stop there.
The parts of us that do bear fruit, He prunes, so that those parts will be even more fruitful. I think it’s important to remember that when we are trying our best to serve Him and things just don’t seem to be working out. Sometimes He is training us for something better. Perhaps we are being pruned.
This is where trust and obedience come to play. When we are praying and walking close to Him, but we still feel like we are being pruned, that’s when we have to lean in closer, because His timing is always perfect and if He’s pruning us, then He knows that the blooms to come will be spectacular.
Sometimes I need reminding. Perhaps you do too.
Have an awesome day!
Wendy 🙂