The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
This was in an online newsletter that I subscribe to and I found it appropriate for what I must do - Let Go & Let God. (edited for our purposes)
The other day I was standing outside a restaurant right next to a tree that had recently been pruned. I was caring on a conversation with a friend but in the back of my mind I kept thinking about that tree. The whole idea of pruning is a weird concept for me. I am not Mr. Gardener so lots of gardening / landscaping concepts slip past me. Pruning is certainly one of those tough to understand ideas. I mean think about it, pruning basically means that in order to increase you must decrease! In order to produce more you must lose something.
The whole less means more pruning concept is a challenge for me. Especially when God is pruning something in my life, my family, or in ministry. It is hard to think that sometimes God removes now in order to produce more later. At times God takes away things in my life in order to bring more down the road. In fact,
There are a couple of things I have discovered about the pruning process that Id like to share. First, pruning hurts! As a Pastor of the same church for over two decades I have seen God prune our congregation a time or two. Every time he does, it hurts! When God moves people out of a local congregation, for whatever the reason, it is hard to accept. Pruning is never fun.
A second truth Ive learned about pruning is that the gardener always knows best! You see, God always knows exactly what I need and exactly when I need it. When God chooses to do some pruning in my life, his timing is always perfect. Even when I dont understand why God is removing certain things from my life, I can accept the fact that he knows what I need better than I do.
The best news about pruning is that more fruit is coming! It helps me to remember that when God prunes my life it means more fruit is on the way. The hurt gives way to hope. The loss soon become gain. When I consider this I have only one response- let the pruning begin!
Is God pruning some area of your life today? As with the tree I mentioned earlier, pruning comes in seasons. Maybe you are in a season of life where God needs to eliminate some things in order to produce more things. I encourage you today to thank God for the pruning. He could leave you the way you are, but he cares more for you than to do that. He is a great gardener and he loves those he prunes.
Blessed , I do understand pruning and the concept as it relates to my life however I must agree it HURTS!!! Without the support of Alanon ,Steps. Sponsors, meetings, I found it impossible to endure.
Thanks, Blessed. Thanks, Betty. Good reads. Blessed, I have experienced some of the hurt and the loneliness that you are sharing here, too. I almost quit Al-Anon at some point because I was in more pain than when I started the process. Both the pain and the loneliness subsided because I continued in the program and also found other supports that helped me through that very painful time. Now, I am so glad I stuck with the program and didn't quit it. Although I no longer need the extra supports, I do know that Al-Anon is the best program I can utilize now together with MIP. They seem to work hand in glove for me. I'm glad you are part of our family.
