Growth always starts slowly. It takes time. Pruning. Watering. Weeding.
This tree started overgrown. We trimmed some of the branches and tried to shape it. (It still has a mind of its own!)
This tree has some trouble on its leaves. We are pulling the diseased leaves and new, healthy ones are growing. It has taken time and there are still bad leaves but we are seeing some progress.
We watched.
And watched. Discouraged. Our other trees were already growing fruit. Why not this one too? Should we trim it more? Did we trim it too much? Is it too diseased?
And then one day….we saw it.
It started slowly. Tiny at first then bigger and bigger. As the winter falls away, as the diseased leaves are pulled, as the summer sun and rain feed it nutrients. It grows. Slowly.
We are really hard on ourselves in this life, dear friends. We expect change overnight. We expect to learn easier, to grow faster, to understand more. But, fruit takes time.
I was thinking today about what God wanted me to share with you and I think it is this: Don’t give up. If you are in your darkest day, don’t give up. If you are in the midst of a devastating loss, don’t give up. If you feel like hope is slipping out of your grasp, don’t give up.
It will take time. You will take time. Keep holding on and your fruit will come.
I love sharing encouragement with you, friends and I hope it helps lift your spirits. Take a look at what we’ve been sharing on Facebook this week and weigh in on your favorites. Here are the top 5!
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