Gran and Bobby were walking around Gran’s garden one afternoon, and they came to the patch where the roses were growing. Gran loved her carpet roses which are the sort that naturally sprawl all over the ground, making a great thick tangled “carpet” on the ground if they are left. They are a very tough rose and very seldom get diseases like black spot on their leaves, and Gran really loved them.

“Gran”, Bobby said, “How do you get them to stand up straight and tall with those mop tops?”

“Well, you see”, said Gran, “If I left them to grow how they want to grow, they would just be a tangled mess on the ground, so that’s why I trim them up to keep them tidy.”

She pointed to the tallest ones at the back of the patch, “Those are the first ones I trained like that Bobby,” she said, “And you can see they are now standing tall and slim with a “mop top” that gets covered with flowers”.

Then she pointed to the ones in front. “Those are the young plants that grew from cuttings last year. Every year, after the hot summer sun has finished, the rose plants sprout their new growth from the bottom of their main stem…see these ones here”, and Gran got down beside the front ones. “See these lovely long shoots, looking so healthy and strong. But they can’t be left there because then they will make the “carpet” on the ground and lose their “standard” look”.

Gran pulled the long new shoots off at the base of the roses, saying “I know this is going to hurt them but it has to be done to keep their beautiful shape. Each year the main stem is getting stronger and stronger, and keeping its shape so the flowers can be seen up high instead of dragging on the ground!”

Bobby watched as Gran snipped off a few more. “What are you going to do with those ones you’ve cut off?” he asked.

“I’ll keep the best ones. “ Gran said, “and put them in fresh soil to become the new cuttings for the next year. The ones from the year before that have taken root and are now growing on their own, and I’ve staked and tied them up. Then in another year or so, they will stand tall and straight with their “mop tops” like the main ones at the back.”

“Wow!” said Bobby, “There’s a lot more to growing roses than I thought!”

They slowly walked back to the house.

“What does all this mean?” Bobby asked, “You always seem to know what things mean!”

“Well,” said Gran, “It reminds me how God has a garden with all sorts of plants growing in it. We are all different just as the flowers are all different, and they all need different ways of being looked after. Some of us are like the roses we’ve just been looking at. If we’re left to ourselves, we sprawl all over the ground, getting tangled up with each other, and having disagreements, each wanting to go our own way. But as God, our Master Gardener, trims us up, He takes off the unwanted stalks and shoots, and helps us to stand tall and straight for Him. He doesn’t leave us to wave around in the wind any old way, but He ties us firmly to a stake so we can grow tall and straight for Him.

“ Yes, it does hurt at times, and other times we can’t see why a perfectly strong healthy shoot has to be taken off, but He knows that it will spoil the picture He has in His mind for us. The plant will sometimes put all its energy into that new growth, rather than into bearing the flowers that He wants to see in us.”

“Oh, I never thought of anything like that, Gran,” Bobby said, “That’s really neat!”

“So the next time we have disappointments, let’s ask ourselves what we can learn from them, and straighten ourselves up to bear flowers for our Gardener to see  and enjoy,” said Gran, “and do you know what Bobby? I’m discovering that the older I get, I’m like that first rose plant I put in the ground, with its main stalk all gnarled and wrinkled.  But there are still unwanted shoots coming out of me that have to be taken off so I can bear flowers for God to enjoy.”

“Oh,” said Bobby slowly as they reached the house, “So that means that it doesn’t matter how old or how young we are, we still have to have those straggly shoots taken off us?”

“Yes,” said Gran, “But it’s not all too hard, Bobby. We still have God’s stick  beside us to hold us up and stand straight and strong for Him! Anyway, let’s go inside  and put the jug on and have a nice hot drink!”