Main Entry: WASTE, Definition: land that is uncultivated, Synonyms: badlands, barren, desert, dust bowl, jungle, solitude, swamp, void, wasteland, wilderness. from Thesaurus.com
We used to live on a farm. I know practically nothing about gardening and even less about farming, however I did notice one thing. Raspberry canes. What’s so special about raspberry canes? Well, we moved in when the canes were full of fruit, people would merrily come and pick their own from the abundance of the canes, kids would squish them into their mouths until the juice ran all over their lovely clean T-shirts.
All very happy. Then the wind would turn colder, the people and the kids with red stained T-shirts would go home and the farm would be quiet. Then one day I went out and there was absolutely NOTHING where the canes had stood, nothing, zilch, all over. That’s the end of the canes, thought I (not being a farmer), they must’ve decided to pull them up.
Then the snow came and we threw snowballs, then the spring came with the lambs and the promise of sun, then all of a sudden there were raspberry canes! And so came the people and the clean T-shirted kids again, they knew the raspberries would be back even if I didn’t. Where did that fruit come from? There was no evidence of anything and then there it was.
God may seem quiet in your life right now. You may feel like you have no clear direction or there is something you desperately want that you cannot have. Maybe you cannot face your yesterdays and fear for tomorrow. Just know this, even if it’s all quiet, or a mess, or dead – He is working in your TODAY. Jesus said the best thing is to concentrate on today and not worry about tomorrow:
‘Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.’ Matthew 6 v34, The Message
He is the master gardener, why don’t you ask Him to do something amazing for you today. You may have to wait a little for that fruit, but it will be worth it.
Raspberries – Pruning and training
‘Prune canes that held fruit in summer during the autumn, cutting them right back to the ground.’ from bbc.co.uk/gardening
He believes in you! 🙂
By Claire Vorster, at www.clairesteaparty.com
Stacey says
Claire this is truth I needed today! Pruning is hard for a season, but if we let God, our master and tender gardner do His heavenly work, the fruit that comes is bigger, sweeter, and glorifying to Him!
Thanks for this picture!
Claire Vorster says
Hi Stacey
I love the fact that something can look completely undone, nothing there. And then it is done. Like Jesus said ‘it is finished’, and then the stone rolls away and there He is – the resurrection and the life. He makes all things beautiful in His time.
Claire x
Harmony says
Wow- thanks for this. Perfect timely word for me.
Reese says
Does winter equal Prune? It is a time of stillness; and, time of self-reflection. If I turn off my stubborn selfishness long enough- I know a good “Pruner,” and HE will love me and hold me thru all the painful pangs of HIS pruning .
Prayers for all.
Beautiful post, Claire.
Holley Gerth says
Oh, wow, Claire. This really spoke to my heart. I never knew that about raspberries! It’s so beautiful how the whole world is like a love letter written to us by God. Thank you!
Claire Vorster says
Thanks Holley – I’ve never looked at a raspberry in the same way since 🙂 You are right about God’s love letter, His love is written in every snowflake, every rainbow, every sunrise, every starry night.
Have a great day x
Claire