The Pruning

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”
John 15:1-2

A vivid parable envisioned:
A plump peach tree, shears, and a lesson.

I pruned the peach tree hard by the stem
I did it knowing ‘twas best for them.

The shears cut distinctly; branches fell,
Unbeknownst to me bystanders tell-

Or not- rather stared at the twiggy pile,
Held hand to chin before resum'd their mile.

A gruesome spectacle! To eye unlearned,
To hand unaccustomed, and heart ungroomed,

That sharpened scissors are still the tool
Whereby every chosen bower may be full

Of richer fruit-- The eye of arborist
Sees by faith as it were altruist.

Then the vision by me understood:
“I” was not the “eye” seeing the shears on wood…

But the Lord! His was the Eye, and I the peach
Cut short along lines I always thought I’d reach.

Uncontrollable the Hand; yet deft
And kind, nor was I at all bereft,

The best limbs in His esteem remain!
Thus renewed, I heard the first refrain:

“I pruned the peach tree hard by the stem,
I did it knowing ‘twas best for them.”