by Deborah Brown
We are one month into a New Year and numerous folks have already experimented with their New Year’s resolution. However, with regards to resolutions, one word comes to mind: pruning. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines pruning as “To cut off or remove dead or living parts or branches of (a plant, shrub, or tree) to improve shape or growth.”
I love gardening and have a hibiscus plant in my backyard. Each winter, after it has been hit by frost, its lush green leaves and hearty branches would wither and turn brown. So each spring, I would prune away the dead branches to encourage new growth. It would grow taller, stronger, and produce more vibrant red blooms than the previous year.
Like my hibiscus plant folks need to prune away those things preventing them from blossoming into the extraordinary individuals that they are capable of being. Bible scripture tells us that:
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. John 15:2
Prune away negative thoughts and replace with positive thoughts.
Prune away obesity and replace with healthy eating and exercise.
Prune away bitterness, hatred, anger, and replace with kindness, love, and happiness.
Prune away a destructive lifestyle and replace with healthy living.
Prune away the negative people in your life and replace with positive people.
Prune away bad relationships and replace with positive and healthy relationships.
Prune away fear and replace with courage and confidence.
Prune away not knowing and replace with knowledge.
Prune away worries and replace with faith.
In this New Year prune away those things preventing you from discovering yourself and making your breakthrough.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7
Deborah Brown is a wife, mother, and banker with more than 30 years of experience. Her hobbies include walking, traveling, and reading. She was inspired by her husband to write and share her views on life and relationships.
Tags: personal growth, pruning
great article..my new years resolution was to do some pruning for some reason i have been told i can at times have a very angry demeanor. You know when i fractured my wrist months back the first thing i was asked did i hurt it smacking somebody????
We could all use some pruning!
very good article.