The Branch

Have you ever had one of those times where God is so present and clearly speaking to you?
I had one of those times today on my walk.  9 out of 10 times these experiences happen on my walks which baffles me because most of the time is so dang hard to get out of the house.

Today as I was almost finished with my 3 miles I was admiring the trees.  Although dead and without leaves they are still very beautiful.

While I was looking down I couldn't help but notice that there was a tiny smashed twig laying on the ground.  The thing that stuck in my head was that this tree is not dead but very much alive and green inside much like Mary discovered in The Secret Garden when she thought the garden was dead.  I couldn't help but relate that discovery and knowledge to my life.   It has been a very hard and heartbreaking time for me as so many of our friends seem to be announcing pregnancies.  I am so truly happy for them but I can't help but wonder when our time will be here.  

While I was working through all of this in my head the verses from John 15 came to mind that says, 

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² 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. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

   ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.


Although it has been such a hard time right now we have seen so many blessings and have felt God's presence so deeply in our lives.  I just need to remember to remain in the vine (God's presence and word) so that I may be alive inwardly as well!