I have decided to do something new on my page...on Fridays I will post a simple devotion for ya'll as a family. When I was in the throws of homeschooling, Fridays always seemed to be more relaxed...we had more activities planned and I think we were all just glad that it was Friday and the weekend was ahead. My posts or a majority of them have been help advice...what to do or not to do. I would like to give you something that would be no work on your part, just a way to add something simple and different to your day. If you find, after a few weeks, that this is helpful in any way please let me know. Again, i am going to keep it simple so the younger ones might gain something. Please enjoy them and may our merciful Father continue to walk with us daily as we do our best to love and serve Him and through Him our families.

                                WHAT PRUNING MEANS

"Mother!" Nacy called to her mother one beautiful day n May. "Where are you?" "In the front yard," Mother called back. Nancy came running. But when she saw what Mother was doing, she stopped short. Her mouth dropped open.

"Oh, no, don't do that, " she begged.

Mother laughed. Nancy couldn't understand why. She didn't think what Mother was doing was funny. Mother was picking all the small buds off the gardenia bush. On each stalk she left only one bud. and Nancy didn't like that.

"I suppose you think I am hurting the gardenias," Mother said.

"Well, aren't you?" Nancy wanted to know.

"No, i'm helping them. If all the buds were left on the stalks, none of them would grow very large. The plant would have to share food and strength with all of them. By pinching all but one, I let the plant give all it's strength to the main blossom."

Nancy shook her head. She still didn't believe what her mother was doing was right.

"I'll tell you what I'll do, " Mother said, "I'll leave all the buds on a few plants just to see what happens."

In a week or so the gardenias were in bloom. And this is what Nancy discovered. Mother was right! The biggest blossoms were on the plants where she had pinched off the small buds.

When Mother saw that Nancy understood, she told her that was the way she wanted her to grow. When she said, "No!" Now, don't be cross!" or "Watch that tongue!" she was really pinching buds that shouldn't grow. She wanted Nancy to become a beautiful blossom for Christ.

Something to think about: This pinching back of buds is called pruning. Sometilmes even branches of treees are cut away so the tree can grow as it should. Do you think children need to be "pruned" by their parents? Can they help prune each other? How? Would you like to grow up without ever being corrected? Why or why not?

Bible verse: "He that listens to correction is wise."  Proverbs 15:5

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we know that we sometimes grow in a direction that is wrong. We let buds develop in our lives that shouldn't be there. Thank You for parents who care how we grow. We want You to help prune us, too. Keep us sweet and kind. Help us to be honest with others. Forgive us for the times we talk back and fail to do what we know is right. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

Thank you for the privilege of helping you and your families grow in the love of Jesus Christ. I consider it an honor and pray for you all.

Colette