The Gardener’s Shears

“Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.”

Hebrews 12:11

The Gardener picked up his pruning shears,
The sharpest ones with oiled blades so strong
That snipped with ease and never stuck up tight;
A barrel for the leaves He’d snip away,
A bag to hold it all in place till night.
Then merrily whistling, He began to work.

A plant within her potted home looked on.
She’d never seen the tools He carried now.
But just like usual He selected plants,
Examining each leafy stem and bud.
He always nourished plants so tenderly,
Providing warmth and water day and night.

But then He raised his shears and deftly cut
Till hardly anything was left at all!
She stared in horror at the dreadful sight.
The gorgeous flow’rs and many glossy leaves
Went tumbling down into the barrel’s mouth,
As He snipped on and on with cruel shears.

“Does He not hear the cries of those He cut?
Does He not care or love them anymore?
We all have done our utmost best to please
Him with our fragrant flowers and vining stems.
What is He thinking to cause so much pain?"
When He stepped close, she curled her leaves up tight.

“Oh, please don’t touch me. Leave me out, I pray!”
She pleaded, “Don’t you see my pretty leaves?
I thought You wanted me to grow up strong!
Why would you mercilessly cut me so?
I’ll cry, I’ll faint, I’ll die! So please just go
And find some other better place to work.”

She peeked and saw tears misting o’er His eyes.
“I know it hurts,” He said. “But trust My hands.
I know that what I’m doing will be best.
I’ll cut the useless leaves so better ones
Can flourish and you’ll burst with many blooms. 
This careful pruning is what makes you strong.”

He raised his shears, cut leaves and buds away.
He did His work, then whisp'ring, held her tight.
“Soon you’ll be strong. Tears only last the night.”