The Lesson of the Twig

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Last night in meditation, my reading brought back a very special moment that God had taught me about how He envisions each of us.

In a visit at my sister’s home many years ago, she eagerly invited me outdoors to see her bridal wreath that she had just planted. There was so much joy and love in her eyes as she lovingly bent over and stroked the tiny branches. Looking at the scrawny little twigs before me, I had a hard time mustering up a word of appreciation. It seemed a little phoney for me to tell her it was beautiful.

But she was seeing it all grown up in its splendor and beauty, full of scented blossoms and enriching the landscape.

Later at home, I realized that this is how God sees each of us, not in our frail imperfect form, but in the full beauty of His vision for us. It truly delights His heart whenever we praise Him for the hidden virtue and loveliness in his scrawny people. We look not at what the eye sees, but how God sees them when His work in them is finished.

Ah, you are beautiful, my beloved! (Song of Songs 1:15)

Carole
 
Beautiful reflection! Joysong!

How true and comforting that while we see ourselves as work in process, God has already seen us as the finished product. It is so precious that we, you and I, are all the apples of God’s eyes.

In order for the plant to grow, it has to touch the soil, make contact with the nourishing medium. After it is planted, it has to be open to the sunshine, water and air. As God’s children we are planted in Christ. Yet the finished product may just remain as a dream if the roots are not deep enough, or if we fail to seek the light from above.

Talents and virtues need to be cultivated and developed just like the garden has to be tended.
 
InLight:
Yet the finished product may just remain as a dream if the roots are not deep enough, or if we fail to seek the light from above.
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Your words reminded me of the gleam in my sister’s face and her tender anticipation of caring for that twig. While I believe that we have somewhat of a responsibility to ‘grow,’ the primary care rests upon the Gardener, yes? I have little doubt that she fertilized it, watered it, protected it from damage from the elements, insects, or animals and watched over it with care.

Maybe the last judgment scene will cause some of us to hang our heads in shame, for the Gardener has given us every possible help to enable us to ‘grow.’

As I read some posts in the Forum where people hold thoughts of being unloved, unwanted, unable, un— (name it), I wish all could realize the tremendous vision God has for each of us in the very fact that we are created by Him. Each hair of our head is numbered.

Yesterday’s Advent reading in Evening Prayer: (1 Cor. 4:5)
*He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts. *
Since He knows us so intimately, down to the very thought and intention of each heart, maybe that’s a good place to start remolding our thinking during this holy season of preparation for His coming. 👍
 
Joysong said:
Later at home, I realized that this is how God sees each of us, not in our frail imperfect form, but in the full beauty of His vision for us.
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So true! Thankfully He sees us as He sees Jesus, since Jesus stands between us as the Merciful Savior – perfect and beautiful. :extrahappy:

Thank you for sharing this. :hug1:
 
Belle, I’m delighted that this spoke to you - you’re welcome!

I noticed you have a newborn daughter, which is another perfect example of how God views us. Some people begin thinking, even while their children are in infancy, about their baby’s first words, first steps, first day of school, etc. And the proud parents capture these moments with photos to remember them. Every phase of growth is cherished, and you dream of what they might become. Some even begin financial preparations in their earliest years for graduation, college, wedding, etc.

Now it’s my turn to thank you!

Carole
 
Joysong said:
I noticed you have a newborn daughter, which is another perfect example of how God views us.
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Yes, I often think about my relationship with her and compare it to my relationship with the Father. I know what’s best for my daughter, and act accordingly. She doesn’t always like it, because she doesn’t always understand, but it is because of my intense love for her that I take care of her in those ways. When she throws a tantrum, I give her another chance because I know that it was a moment of frustration for her, and that she loves me even if she didn’t act like it. I never tire of her running to me with a hug, her giggles, or her sweet disposition. Hearing her say the name Jesus is one of the choicest blessings (she’s just able to say it!), and I imagine it sounds just as sweet to Him when we call on His Name with love.

I feel soooooo blessed to be a mother for all the obvious reasons, but also because it does give me this unique perspective (I think) of our relationships with God. ❤️

God bless! 🙂
 
Joysong said:
Your words reminded me of the gleam in my sister’s face and her tender anticipation of caring for that twig. While I believe that we have somewhat of a responsibility to ‘grow,’ the primary care rests upon the Gardener, yes? I have little doubt that she fertilized it, watered it, protected it from damage from the elements, insects, or animals and watched over it with care.

Maybe the last judgment scene will cause some of us to hang our heads in shame, for the Gardener has given us every possible help to enable us to ‘grow.’
Click to expand...
The lesson of the twig can be approached from different angles and layers, I think.

I am with you about the Gardener. In this sense, we are the twigs, God is the Gardener.
He provides us with the garden. He watches over us, protects us, and prunes us.

But one could also see his faith as the twig, and he is the gardener to tend his faith.
In this sense, the person has to :
protect it –not allow himself to be pulled away by the world, not fall into sin, doubt or despair…
water it – actively seek spiritual growth by feeding himself with heavenly things, Bible readings, spiritual readings, meditations, prayers, Sacraments, etc………
prune it – work on detachment and personal holiness, get rid of whatever baggage, passion, or weakness there may be……

Overall, it is a given that the Gardener who takes care of sparrows takes care of us always.
The sun shines upon the entire garden, but some plant grows better than the other.
Growth takes efforts. The effort part is on us. It is up to the individual how to respond to God’s grace.
 
Nice reflection, InLight. 🙂
God has quite a number of ways of speaking parables to us, if we have ears to hear.
 
Belle’s comments reminded me how often I hear parents putting their young children down, a concept I am far too familiar with from my own upbringing. They hold them back, question their judgment, riddle them with fears of failure and doubts about being loved, telling them all the things that they aren’t capable of.

I have a young grandson with cerebral palsy,who will likely struggle through his entire life with many things that most of us take for granted. But even at his young age, he seems indomitable and seems never to be without a smile, and he has already managed to accomplish things that many did not believe him capable of.

He is blessed though in that he is surrounded by family members who will encourage and push him to be all he can be. Family who does not see him as “disabled” in any way, but simply having different gifts. Family to whom he IS a gift.

I quite frankly dread the day when he encounters the first mean-spirited kid who pokes fun at him for whatever reason; or the teacher who tells him he isn’t capable of something and doesn’t challenge him to do all he can; or the parent who doesn’t want their child to play with him because he’s “not like us”. But I’m counting on his being soundly grounded in knowing that he is loved and that he is exactly who God made him to be.

For just as Carole’s sister could see the future–and even the present beauty–in those twigs, so we see that beauty in our little twig. And just as that beauty is changing our lives now, we know it will change many more through the years.

I’m firmly convinced that that’s why God came into this world as a baby, for it is possibly only through babies that we really learn how to love unconditionally. They are the “rocks” that God throws in His pond of creation that send out ripples of love in all directions.

Thank you Carole for a beautiful insight that is sure to send many of us reflecting.
 
ncjohn said:
I’m firmly convinced that that’s why God came into this world as a baby, for it is possibly only through babies that we really learn how to love unconditionally. They are the “rocks” that God throws in His pond of creation that send out ripples of love in all directions.
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Beautiful! 👍
 
Joysong’s post reminded me of St. Theresa’s analogy to a flower garden. We are the flowers and God is the gardener. God loves all the flowers. He loves the daisy as much as he loves the rose.

So, we too should love the dandelions we meet in life, as much as love the roses.

I haven’t figured out which flower I am yet, but I’m sure it comes from the weed group. 😃

Jim
 
I haven’t figured out which flower I am yet, but I’m sure it comes from the weed group.
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Well, my good friend, I would definitely say you are a weed. Anyone who uses CP is a heretic, a weed, a bad Catholic, a reprobate, a disturber of the peace. I hope you don’t spread your seeds to our yards!

I hope our readers know I’m joshing with you, Jim! 😛
 
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