Shall I Leave You Alone?

John 15:2  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. 

A child of God was once overwhelmed by the number of afflictions that seemed to target her.

As she walked past a vineyard during the rich glow of autumn, she noticed its untrimmed appearance and the abundance of leaves still on the vines.

The ground had been overtaken by a tangle of weeds and grass, and the entire place appeared totally unkempt.

While she pondered the sight, the heavenly Gardener whispered such a precious message to her that she could not help but share it.
 
The message was this: “My dear child, are you questioning the number of trials in your life? 

Remember the vineyard and learn from it. The gardener stops pruning and trimming the vine or weeding the soil only when he expects nothing more from the vine during that season.

He leaves it alone, because its fruitfulness is gone and further effort now would yield no profit.
 
In the same way, freedom from suffering leads to uselessness. 

Do you now want me to stop pruning your life? Shall I leave you
alone?”
 
Then her comforted heart cried,“No!”

~Homera Homer-Dixon`