“Yet while I sometimes make mistakes in my pruning, I know the good Lord never makes a false cut. He does not splint where he should sever and he does not sever where he should splint. I am not as willing a tree as I ought to be—I’d rather grow weakly and comfortably than trust in a future branch structure that I cannot see. Yet Someone sees. Can I trust in Him?
Lord, give us eyes to see.”
I needed to read this today, right now, Dixie. Thank you. I pray you continue to recover—and to prune wisely in the gardens God has given you.
“He does not splint where he should sever and he does not sever where he should splint. I am not as willing a tree as I ought to be—I’d rather grow weakly and comfortably than trust in a future branch structure that I cannot see. Yet Someone sees. Can I trust in Him?”
I’m reminded of a passage I clung to in some difficult times — “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench” — I read a commentary on it once, and the way he speaks of Christ as the restorer of these weak things reminds me of what you’re saying here. I’ll link the whole thing, but this is my favorite passage:
Brother and sister suffering from any sorrow, and bleeding from any wound, there is a balm and a physician. There is one hand that will never be laid with blundering kindness or with harshness upon our sore hearts, but whose touch will be healing, and whose presence will be peace.
The Christ who knows our sins and sorrows will not break the bruised reed. The whole race of man may be represented in that parable that came from His own lips, as fallen among thieves that have robbed him and wounded him and left him bruised, but, blessed be God! only ‘half dead’; sorely wounded, indeed, but not so sorely but that he may be restored. And there comes One with the wine and the oil, and pours them into the wounds. ‘The bruised reed shall He not break.’
So glad you're feeling better now Dixie! 💛
Thank you, Amy!
Beautiful reflection! So glad you are improving, too.
Thank you! I'm still recovering emotionally but it's very good to be physically sound again!
“Yet while I sometimes make mistakes in my pruning, I know the good Lord never makes a false cut. He does not splint where he should sever and he does not sever where he should splint. I am not as willing a tree as I ought to be—I’d rather grow weakly and comfortably than trust in a future branch structure that I cannot see. Yet Someone sees. Can I trust in Him?
Lord, give us eyes to see.”
I needed to read this today, right now, Dixie. Thank you. I pray you continue to recover—and to prune wisely in the gardens God has given you.
Thank you so much for the prayers!
“He does not splint where he should sever and he does not sever where he should splint. I am not as willing a tree as I ought to be—I’d rather grow weakly and comfortably than trust in a future branch structure that I cannot see. Yet Someone sees. Can I trust in Him?”
I’m reminded of a passage I clung to in some difficult times — “A bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench” — I read a commentary on it once, and the way he speaks of Christ as the restorer of these weak things reminds me of what you’re saying here. I’ll link the whole thing, but this is my favorite passage:
Brother and sister suffering from any sorrow, and bleeding from any wound, there is a balm and a physician. There is one hand that will never be laid with blundering kindness or with harshness upon our sore hearts, but whose touch will be healing, and whose presence will be peace.
The Christ who knows our sins and sorrows will not break the bruised reed. The whole race of man may be represented in that parable that came from His own lips, as fallen among thieves that have robbed him and wounded him and left him bruised, but, blessed be God! only ‘half dead’; sorely wounded, indeed, but not so sorely but that he may be restored. And there comes One with the wine and the oil, and pours them into the wounds. ‘The bruised reed shall He not break.’
https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/mac/isaiah-42.html
Annelise, you understand. Thank you! This reflection brought tears to my eyes.
Oh Dixie, what a trial - and what a last paragraph there. Thank you for helping us think about our own needs for pruning, in the midst of your own.
I had a strange hunch the last several weeks and hoping all was well with you. Praying your renewed strength of both body and soul.
Thank you so much for the prayers, Haley! The prayers of friends mean everything to me right now.
So glad to hear you are on the mend! We can learn so much from gardening, I find each year I spend more time doing it.
I agree! (And thanks!)
That is a hard place to be. Glad things are improving. Praying for continued recovery for you--especially with your awesome trip coming up!!
Thank you so much, Abigail!
Also, we need to have coffee sometime soon! Maybe after I get back from Spain.
I would love that!