Pruning of the Tree

She stands alone in the garden
a fine fruit bearing tree,
growing tall in stature,
a pleasant sight to see.
soon arrived the season
for the gardener to shear...
the tree quivered in dismay,
her leaves rustling in fear.
"the master of the garden
has come to torture me,
whatever shall I do"?
said the frightened tree.
the gardener leaned his ladder
against her tippy top,
and as the tree grimaced
he proceeded to chop.
he worked his way down
to her branches hanging low,
and sheared and lopped some more
before he had to go.
the tree believed the pruning
would be her ruination...
"I"ll rot to the ground",
she said in indignation."

When autumn breezes blew
she shed her leaves again
and brutal winter winds
made her branches bend.
when springtime rolled around
to the tree's surprise,
her buds and leaves were blooming
twice their normal size!
when her fruit began to grow
much larger than before,
she realized the pruning
was a necessary chore.
she continues to grow sturdy
as she submits to the shears,
that have helped her fruit and
foliage grow more lush thru the years.

Isaiah 45:9  "Woe to the man who fights with his Creator.  Does the pot argue with its maker?  Does the clay dispute with him who forms it, saying, "Stop, you are doing it wrong!"  or the pot exclaim, "How clumsy can you be?"