My mother has often shared the importance of pruning roses at various times of the year: With pruning, there will be new growth, increased flowers, health and abundance of the plant. I never seem to have (or find) the time to do this important task, though. There’s too much to do, too many places to run, other tasks that take priority.
Somehow, I found the time yesterday during our current quarantine and social distancing. Maybe it was the lack of scheduled activities, the inability to go to stores, or just the need to get outside and do something by myself for a few minutes. As I stood and stared at my 3 rose bushes, clippers in hand, I noticed two things that I hadn’t before (Or maybe I just finally took the time to notice): 1. There were a LOT of dead branches left over from past years; 2. There was new bright green leaves and stems that were pushing to grow but were getting blocked by the old and now dead branches. As I began to prune, I noticed 2 more things: 1. When I cut the old branches and stems and removed them, I saw the new growth so much more clearly, as if they popped out reaching towards the sky; 2. Rose bushes have thorns and boy, did it hurt to prune those bushes. But when I was done, I was glad that I suffered through the pain and scratches, as the buses looked ready to grow in a new and fuller way.
I was struck by how my pruning the rose bushes represents a very important task I need to pay attention to in my own life, too. Just as I had time to do a needed garden task because of the quarantine at home, I also need to take this time to do needed “pruning” in my personal life. What are the “dead branches” that still are there but need to be acknowledged and cut out? What is the new growth that may be calling for air, sunlight, and opportunity? Yes, it may hurt at times to do the needed pruning in my life, as the thorns caused discomfort during my gardening. But If I take this opportunity where so many of the “extras” are removed from my life, perhaps I can clearly see what really is necessary for health, growth, and abundance in the next season, and what can be removed.
What needs pruned and removed from your life that may be holding back new growth? What is not worth holding on to or keeping in your life? How has this time of distancing allowed you to see more clearly what needs removed and what needs to grow?
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