The Vine & The Branches

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; Apart from me you can do nothing"

 John 15:5

I have been reflecting on so much since our arrival back in the Bluegrass State, transitioning into a new year and looking forward to the blessings I am certain 2015 has to offer me and my family.

Yes I am highly aware that the loss of my mother and the pain encompassing me during by far THE worst periods of time in my life, has been incredibly present on the pages of the Caring Bridge as well as my blog. In the small amount of time that makes up the days of 2015 thus far, I am truly amazed at the things God is revealing, uncovering as I look toward the coming year. In the recent post you have heard me express my desire to clarify the direction for which I feel my blog is going and that which draws from the deepest parts of me, assuring you that my words will not forever feel solely centered around the loss of my mother...in preparing my next post it hit me, like discovering that last puzzle piece in a 2000 piece puzzle falling perfectly into place, bringing the picture fully into focus! I absolutely love when the Lord does that, so clear as if He was seated right there beside me on my bench handing over wisdom like the passing of a tray! The message of John 15:5 so redundantly making its presence in my every day, so much so that I now chuckle looking skyward smiling as I acknowledge Him and offer a whisper of thanksgiving.

"Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness."

The vine and the branches...

Remain In Me...

Moving forward from this day my discovery is quite simple! Yes the pain has a long road yet to travel, I still have too many days where I feel I cannot breath...in my life I have encountered great tragedy, a story most of you have shared from the beginning & triaged the wounds of that which make up the broken pieces of your own stories...but here's the thing, we must, MUST have tragedy, loss, pain in order to learn & grow into the person God is molding us to be! We must put our full trust in Him, the Vine because amazing stuff comes, stemming  from the rubble, the dark & painful...we cannot have one without the other! HE is the Vine, WE are the branches...in this life we will suffer but through great suffering comes the branching of great things, life experiences that grow us in Him, without it we cannot bear fruit! For me, this thing called grief is far from done, there is so much healing left to do...BUT at least I can see the branches! Knowing that they are there comforts me, it offers something to hold on to, swing from... "Storms make trees take deeper roots..."  I am learning that we mustn't try to explain ourselves or the duration for which our pain stays present or try & validate the struggles that pave the story of us, yet embrace the opportunity the Lord has offered us to use our trials to birth new healthy limbs, limbs that not only make up the chapters of our stories but more importantly, witness & work in the lives and stories of those around us!

The Vine...

While I'd give anything on this planet not to have a reason for such learning, I am incredibly grateful AND encouraged that He is using what has happened in my life, so that all these awesome and growth worthy things that the Lord has in store for me, could be place at my feet! I'd trade it in a heartbeat if only I could, but I can't so I feel honored to serve Him in such a way! There is no doubt that many a branches, of every variety are in store for my future, and yours too! 

...the Branches... 
 "Remain in me & I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."                                                                                  John  15:4

I have been chewing on the idea of changing the name of this blog, with each "God Wink" I have encountered.  I consider The Vine & Branches, hear the ringing of "Remain In Me" in the swelling of my heart and feel certain that my mother IS among the first of my "Followers"! "You sweet sweet soul high above in the trees, always watching over me..." I think of the parallel with mom & the Vine & Branches of John 15:5 ...I have been left to carry on her legacy and I will forever strive to be a strong branch of her, mothering my sweet girls & working as hard as I can as a wife & mother she would be proud of! Growing great branches and watching all the blessings that come from it! "...yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with branches that the birds can perch in its shade." Mark 4:32 

Some have shared that they find difficulty in reading my writings, it is far too painful after such a loss which I fully understand. My prayer is that the trail may lead you on this journey with me where one day all our hearts will feel a little lighter...I am anxious to see where this fresh road, full of adventure leads me and while I cannot promise it will always be a smooth ride, I do hope you will come along! I feel incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to branch limbs that grown strong through the stages of my healing and be the fortunate messenger of all the goodies God has in store! In the distance I see a plethora of special "first" that I am eager to tackle and excited to share with you! A new day is here, on this day it is a beautiful snow covered one, full of sunshine and hope.  "Life's a ride, You've gotta buy a ticket, hang on tight and keep going around 'til they kick ya off...We must take every opportunity to make the most of our vary remarkable life."~ Curly Girl

I AM the VINE...
YOU are the Branches...

"And the wind said, may you be strong as the oak, yet flexible as the birch...May you stand as tall as the redwood, live gracefully as the Willow and may you always bear fruit all your days on earth."

I always love to hear from you so do feel free to leave messages in the comment section below if you like!