Intertribal Life Newspaper -

I was not impressed; they looked like a bunch of small confused trees that planted themselves upside down with only gnarly roots sticking out. Even in winter, evergreens retain their beauty, and hardwoods stand as impressive sentinels. These misshapen little trees did not look like anything a person would choose for a garden; yet, these trees, known as vines, flourished in the vineyard. No one chose them for their beauty; they pruned them to produce abundant fruit.

Jesus said, "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful" (John 15:1–2). Jesus explained to His followers that He was the vine and they were the branches. His life resembled the gnarly vine in the vineyard. "He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering and familiar with pain" (Isaiah 53:2–3). He gave His life so that we could have life. He became the first fruit among many.

Now it is our turn. Jesus told His followers, "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last" (John 15:16). We cannot bear fruit on our own; we must stay attached to Him. Then we also receive our Father's care and pruning. He prunes away dead or unnecessary branches; He washes away the dirt that weighs us down and lifts our weak branches from the ground so we can take in more light.

In my younger years, I didn't like to think about pruning. I feared losing something. I didn't think of good fruit or that Jesus had died and rose from the dead so I could enjoy a loving relationship with His Father. I pictured the Father as stern and unloving.

Jesus revealed a different truth when He answered Philip's plea to show him the Father. Jesus said, "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

Wow! All the compassion, the forgiving, the patient teachings about His kingdom, the healings and deliverances-they are all the Father's heart for people! I can trust my heavenly Father with the pruning. I don't need roots of bitterness or moldy discord choking my life. I don't need a lot of pretty leaves crowding out valuable fruit.

The fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control), feels much better than sin. God is love. Jesus said, "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you" (John 15:9-12).

Since I live in the north, I look forward to warm spring sunshine and growing things. You might live where flowers bloom this time of year, or you might reside in a prison or another place where you aren't able to garden. Wherever we live, we can all participate in God's gardening now. We can stay close to the Vine, enjoying His presence. We can submit to our Father's pruning. If you like to journal or make lists, you might try keeping track of pruning times and then see if you can track them to heaven's fruit. God promises that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).

Sue Carlisle grew up on the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming. An enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, her passion is to encourage people to look at creation and see our awesome Creator. Sue

is author of Walking with the Creator Along the Narrow Road (2013 Indian Life Books). She and her husband, Wes, now live in Thunder Bay, Ontario.