Pruning Poinsettias

My son-in-law owns a greenhouse.  Alex and his brothers do a great job growing beautiful plants.  Spring bedding plants, summer ferns, fall mums, or Christmas poinsettias, South Central Growers is always a beautiful place to visit.  I like the machinery too.  I am fascinated with the automatic watering systems.  I like watching the seeding machine and the automatic plugger.  Amazing.  They have a machine that “shaves” the poinsettias.  A poinsettia will grow big and tall, but tall is not a desirable trait in a Christmas poinsettia.  Full and round is.  So, Ron Van Der Hengst sets the “pruner” to a height that leaves five or six lateral buds on the stem cutting off the terminal bud.  The remaining buds produce bracs that branch out making a gorgeous, full poinsettia.  The poinsettia is beautiful because of the pruning.  Jesus Christ said in John 15:1 & 2, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman … every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”  Ron knows what he is doing when he prunes the poinsettia, and God knows what He is doing when He prunes on your life.  The good good Lord uses bad things that come into your life to make you a better person.  He knows exactly what He is up to.  You can trust Him … in the good times and in the bad times.  God uses everything for your good and for His glory.  So, don’t fight God.  Thrust Him and know that He is doing what is best in your life.