Pruning

Essential Takeaway: Prune yourself

A couple of weeks ago, I spent a Saturday pruning the raspberry bushes. It took a lot of time and honestly, I didn’t know exactly what I was doing. Pruning is “the practice involving the selective removal of certain parts of a plant, such as branches, buds, or roots. The practice entails targeted removal of diseased, damaged, dead, non-productive, structurally unsound, or otherwise unwanted tissue from crop and landscape plants.” I needed to get rid of the dead and non-productive parts that would not allow the new young shoots to progress and grow the desired fruit.

Quarrentine and Covid has allowed me to think about a lot of activities and feelings before Covid. I think we will now refer to moments as “pre covid” or “after covid.” Pre-Covid had a lot of pressure. For example: kids in many activities, kids excel in those activities, be the mom with the snacks after the activities, clean house, best vacations, cutest instagram pictures, write the kids church talk, plan a lesson for primary, visit the neighbors…. the list goes on an on. During Covid, I’ve realized none of those things really matter.

I don’t know how many of the extra things we will participate in after covid. I have decided the something I cleaned out is guilt. My new goal is to do the best I can and then not feel guilty about the things I can’t get to. My personal relationship with God is first priority. Second, I will focus on my family. After that, I will do the best I can without the dead, non-productive weight of guilt.

Cleaning out the raspberries was time consuming and at times painful! It was worth it. What are you cleaning out during Covid that will not make it to your “after-Covid” days?