Encouragement

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The Old Pear Tree


When we moved into our present house thirty seven years ago. In the garden stood a pear tree; the only tree left of an orchard where our house and others were to take their place. The tree was said to be fifty years old at least and it produced conference pears quite often. Last year however my husband decided to chop all the branches from the tree as some were dead wood and it had grown straggly. He painted the stumps white to seal the cuts and it looked a sorry state, or some might say it was a bit of sculpture. I felt rather dismayed but at least the birds could still feed from the feeders.

Come spring and little shoots were sprouting from the stump and even a little blossom appeared. Now there are new branches everywhere as it flourishes and is so green like a new tree. It has all happened so fast there is even two pears on it.

I wonder if this is like the biblical story of the vine unless you prune it will not bear fruit. Like our lives God has planned we are changed when the old self is cut away and the new person God has in mind flourishes in his hands.

What I thought as a disaster is now developing anew.

Joyce Gale 2005

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