“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
Last September we added a new little four-legged member to our family. Her name is Hazel Mae, she is a Mal-Shi (half Maltese and half Shitzu), and she is tiny! After only a few months, she learned the hard way how tough you have to be in order to survive in the Robertson family. One night, our entire family was at Jep and Jessica’s house, so Hazel Mae followed us down to the end of the street. In the midst of the chaos, sweet River accidentally stepped on Hazel Mae’s leg and broke it. This tiny little 3-pound dog had a cast on her leg for nine weeks! During this time, her hair kept getting more and more shaggy, knotted and growing over her eyes to where she just looked like a little rat. I honestly didn’t know if she could see anything at all! We weren’t able to get her groomed until after the cast was off, so it was just getting worse every day.
Finally, after the cast came off and she was able to get her bearings back, I took her to the groomers and had them give her the works: nail trim, bath, skin treatment and fur trim.
As soon as Hazel Mae came home, it was like she was a new dog. She ran around the house and yard like she was a wind-up toy that never wound down. She jumped up on the furniture, played with her toys, chased Mia around the house and acted like she was the happiest dog in the entire universe! She wags that fluffy little tail nonstop now. It’s amazing how just a couple of ounces of puppy hair can completely change her world!
Isn’t that how we are when we get rid of the things in our life that are holding us back? When we finally let God the Father prune our branches in order to get rid of the dead or dying spots, we are immediately able to feel the difference and start to grow and flourish. Notice in the above scripture that it doesn’t say WE are the gardener, but that the Father is the gardener. We aren’t expected to do the work ourselves, but we are expected to open our heart to God in order to let Him do the work.
Is there something holding you back from growing and flourishing? If so, ask God to prune your branches. The process may be uncomfortable and even painful, but a few weeks or months from now, you’ll be able to thank God, the Gardener, for preparing you for all the fruit that is now growing in your life.
And maybe, just like little Hazel Mae, this will change your world.
Have a wonderful week!
Comments
Cindy :
Mae is my middle name and my mom and grandmother. Your devotions are so wonderful as you are!!! Thanks for opening my eyes to Gods plan for our lives
Jul 04, 2016
Sheila A. :
Hazel Mae is just too cute!
I love this story & it just confirms what I’ve read for the second time today about letting God do some pruning in my life. He’s so amazing in the way He confirms things!
Thanks so much for your Devotionals, Missy.
God bless you, your family & your new addition ❣
Jun 30, 2016
Kelly Bonner:
Thank you so much for your devotions! They always speak to me. I’ve really been praying for God to set me free from fear & anxiety. I’ve struggled with fear all my life & I’m tired of always being fearful & anxious. I know this is not how God intended me to live my life.
Jun 28, 2016
Melissa:
Thank You! LOVE YOUR BLOG- so real, so encouraging!!! So Timely! The Lord has been speaking to my spirit to nit become entangled in the things He has set me free from ( anxiety, depression)
Jun 28, 2016
Sherry:
This is the first time I read your blog. I watch the show. This is what I needed to hear to change something’s in life. Hazel Mae is a cutie. Thank for these words you wrote today. Now I just to di it. It is so hard sometimes. Will you pray for me? Have a wonderful day.
Jun 27, 2016
Hannah:
Missy, your devotions are so inspirational. You’re whole family is. Thank you so much? I love reading your blogs every week, there so amazing.
Jun 27, 2016
Renae Kenney:
I have never read one of your motivational Monday messages until today. Loved it!! Thank you for posting them :)
Jun 27, 2016
Lindsay :
Loved reading this! So true! God bless!
Jun 27, 2016
Delta:
Today I made the decision to cut some people out of my life. I finally realized that I was denying myself just to get along with people I had only one thing in common with. For a few hours I had this sick feeling I had gone off and been a drama queen – again – when I came on line and saw this. I’m afraid my tree is a bit overgrown and needs some work, but I know it was God with His shears who made me realize what was happening. And I have to admit, even though I miss these people already, I feel lighter without them. Thank you.
Jun 27, 2016
Robin Schmidt :
Missy I don’t know if you will actually read this but I want you to know your entire family is a true inspiration to my family. We’ve had a lot of road blocks and speed bumps in our way but we’ve kept looking to God to get us through and he has. We look forward to another season of Duck Dynasty and now that God has moved us back to northwest Florida we hope to come see y’all soon. God Bless! Robin
Jun 27, 2016
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