pruning failure.

i pruned the pumpkin too much. and it died. its now orange and about the size of a toddler's head. and the plant is dead.
i pruned it too much.
i killed Pumpkin.
and the dreams of having the world's biggest pumpkin ready to be carved for halloween are crushed by the harsh reality of a mournful summer.

okay maybe its not that dramatic.
but it got me thinking about God's mercy.
God is called the master Gardener, Pruner, Vinedresser. In John 15 Jesus says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit."

"sweet" thought i. "i can prune this pumpkin a little and it will grow more pumpkins!!!!"

Picture this:
picture me walking, all slow-motion, intense like--towards this pumpkin vine in the back yard, scissors in my right hand, the other hand clenched in a tight make-your-knuckles-white fist, i've prunin' on my mind, adrenaline in my blood, and soil on my cheek.


again, probably not as dramatic.


but, then i proceeded to cut off all of the dead or soon to be dead leaves. "there you go little pumpkin, now show me what you got!" 
a week later. the whole thing was dead and the one green plump young pumpkin was turning a bright orange.
the idea is that if you cut off the dead leaves, the energy that is going to them will go to the live parts of the plant, thus producing more fruit. 

where did i falter? cutting off the almost dead leaves. I didn't give those enough time to provide photosynthesis for the plant. they were working like they needed to. they just didn't look new and fresh as as thought they should.

through all of this, i've found that in the world of plants, i am not good at playing God. 
i clearly don't know how to prune just enough to where it benefits the plant. to get rid of all that is bad and leave that which profits a plant, even if i consider it ugly. 
God never prune us too much. He just gets rid of the things that cause death, or take away the energy from that which produces fruit. He is mercyful to allow us to experience those leaves which are ugly, but still beneficial in our lives. once they are unneeded, He gets rid of them.

sorry Pumpkin. maybe we'll plant your seeds next summer and you can produce a whole bushel of pumpkins for yourself!
and i promise, i won't come anywhere near you with scissors. 

check out our new watermelons!!! i solemnly swear i will not come at you with scissors too.