Lessons from a Plant, Part 3.1 – Pruning
I learned that pruning a plant will help it grow much fuller so I figured I’d give it a try with my camomile. I picked a healthy plant that I thought could withstand the trauma of being cut.
After a few days I was beginning to worry about my plant. It showed no signs of growth and I thought I ruined one of my best camomile plants. However, about 1.5 – 2 weeks after pruning, I saw small shoots coming out of the branches. 
Where there was one main shoot, now there are three shoots growing.
Hebrews 12:10-11 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Being pruned hurts, part of the plant is being cut off but it encourages growth. In the same way discipline hurts, it’s painful and we want to run away from pain and just be comfortable. But that discipline is designed to help us grow. Just like the plant didn’t want it’s main stem cut, it responded to the hardship by sprooting 3 new stems to take its place. It has become more resilent to damage and able withstand hardships with 3 stems plus the ability to be more productive. In the same way, we need to respond to discipline and hardships by growing. It will help us to develop as people and Kingdom Workers, able to overcome more, resilent to more of this world, and more productive. Embrace the pruning and grow.