Bobby watched Grandma snipping away at the plants around the side of the house. They were quite big plants and he thought they looked quite nice.
“Why are you cutting those plants back Grandma?” he asked.
Grandma paused a moment and then said, “You see these leaves here, Bobby?” she asked, “They have all got little black spots on them, and that’s a disease. Besides, these plants are getting too big and are covering up the smaller ones underneath them”.
“Oh”, said Bobby, “So you are taking all the bad leaves off. Will they grow again?”
“Oh yes,” Grandma replied, “In a couple if months you won’t know them. They will all send up new shoots again, and the bush will look much better.”
“What about those weeds there Grandma? Are you going to take them out?”. Bobby asked.
“What do you think Bobby?” Grandma asked.
“Yes, I guess they aren’t doing any good there. Shall I pull them up for you?” Bobby went on, and then bent down to pull them out.
“What does this remind you of, Bobby?” Grandma asked.
“Well, I know weeds aren’t supposed to be in the garden”, Bobby said, “I guess they are like the bad habits we have….if we leave them and keep doing them all the time they will grow and take us over”.
“That’s quite right Bobby”, said Grandma. “And the pruning is another way to get rid of things we shouldn’t be doing like telling lies and cheating. It might hurt us to put things right, but when we have done this, we can start to grow good habits and the flower buds will start coming. Then people will admire us and enjoy our company just like they will admire these flower bushes when they grow again”.
“Wow!” said Bobby, “I never thought of that before. I guess it’s a good idea to cut all those bad leaves off after all Grandma!”
Grandma smiled to herself. She knew that Bobby wouldn’t forget this lesson in a hurry. She also remembered the Bible verse that talks about pruning where Jesus said…..I am the true He takes away: and every branch that bears fruit (flowers) , He prunes it, that it may bear more fruit (flowers).