Gather Ye Rosebuds

Today I got a call from a girlfriend that I admire more than she knows.

During our call she tells me her office doors may have to close because her biggest client had to move on for reasons out of her control.

I know why she has called me. It’s not because I am the fun friend you call to hang out with rather I am the friend that can say, “Me too” and mean it! I have been in your shoes and felt that same thing.

Pruning. It is defined as cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to increase fruitfulness, growth, and prevent disease.

It is like the beautiful rosebush that blooms during our beloved rose parade but must be cut back merely a month later. This is done so that it might not use ALL of its energy to keep those branches that no longer serve it and bring forth May blossoms.

For me it started May 2014. I was singing in church and heard that small voice that is so clear that I know they’re not my thoughts alone.

“Will you still love me if I take it ALL away?” quietly wafted through my mind.

I sing on starting to cry. “The job, the kids, the clothes, the car, the friends, everything…will you still have faith in me?” I know our father is good but I am terrified.

Softly, I whisper “Yes.”

Within two weeks I am informed that a job I had been at for over 13 years will no longer mine and that my son was so depressed he didn’t want to go on living.

I think things like, this hurts, it’s not fair, I will never find another job, I just got to park in the manager parking lot, and I must have been an awful mother!

During times like these I like to think about running away to Mexico to become a margarita waitress on a beach and learn how to macramé for extra money but the husband balks at this idea.

Then I remember during my pity party of one, that I made a promise. I would have faith no matter what. I would love Him and lean into His strength! 

I started to realize my son is old enough to care for himself and this was not my fault. He is getting his life on track.

I began volunteering to pick up a young girl at day camp at church as a small measure of faith each day. Also it got me out of my pajamas!

Slowly I realize that I have been surrounded by foliage which was choking me out of the joy that was intended for my life. It didn't depend on my job or what I thought my plan for life should be.

I begin to see a bud on the vine.

He brings a job by November 2014 and I am on track. I am learning, growing, and mostly blooming. Life is good.

November 2015, one year later almost to the day, it is time to thin the dead weight and the investors pull the plug on the start-up I’ve joined.

I laugh as the announcements are made that this the week before Thanksgiving.

My garden was too full of blooms and it was time to clean it up. I realize this is not being done to me but for me.

Yet again I start another position within six weeks that has clearly been set aside for me by Him.

Getting back to the call today, I hear myself saying to my friend, “You are going to kick butt and you’re the most bad-ass woman I know!” She is not convinced. She is scared.

But I am not afraid for her. I know that she is getting rid of that which will hold her back from her most beautiful bloom. She may have a few scars from the cut but they will grow over stronger and unbreakable.

So gather ye rosebuds while ye may as it is a short season until the pruning arrives but in our weakness He is strong and delivers spring year after year after year.