God is the Gardener

God is the Gardener is an original Fox and Pebble illustration by Malory Fiso
 
Years ago, I heard this analogy. It was during a time of my life where I was experiencing a lot of refining. It has stuck with me ever since.
 
Hugh B. Brown told of purchasing a rundown farm in Canada many years ago. As he went about cleaning up and repairing his property, he came across a currant bush that had grown over six feet high and was yielding no berries, so he pruned it back drastically, leaving only small stumps. Then he saw a drop like a tear on the top of each of these little stumps, as if the currant bush were crying, and thought he heard it say: “How could you do this to me? I was making such wonderful growth. … And now you have cut me down. Every plant in the garden will look down on me. … How could you do this to me? I thought you were the gardener here.”
 
He replied, “Look, little currant bush, I am the gardener here, and I know what I want you to be. I didn’t intend you to be a fruit tree or a shade tree. I want you to be a currant bush, and some day, little currant bush, when you are laden with fruit, you are going to say, ‘Thank you, Mr. Gardener, for loving me enough to cut me down.’
 
I’m sure many of us have experienced moments where we ask God “How could you do this to me?” It takes faith to trust that the hardest seasons of our lives aren’t proof that God has forgotten us or hurt us, but that He loves us enough to not leave us where we are.
 
Hugh Brown ended his story with this “Many of you are going to have very difficult experiences: disappointment, heartbreak, bereavement, defeat. You are going to be tested and tried. I just want you to know that if you don’t get what you think you ought to get, remember, God is the gardener here. He knows what He wants you to be.” 
 
There were a few elements that felt important to include. The flourishing fruit trees in the background represent those we might look up to, or even compare ourselves too. Whether in person, or online, we are surrounded by others seeming success. It is easy to loose sight of our own strengths, our own God given gifts, when we are focused on comparing. The scene I chose to portray in the foreground is that of a Savior who understands both sides. He knows the importance of pruning and new growth, but is also filled with compassion for the pain that accompanies and the faith required to grow..
 
Please allow up to a week of processing time after ordering (allow 1-2 weeks for canvas orders)
 
Printed on several high quality paper types and available in multiple sizes to best fit your space. Sizes/Paper Types
 
4x6 - 11x14 printed on premium cotton textured paper (gives the illusion that it is painted right to the paper rather than printed)
 
16x20 - 40x60 Beautiful Giclee print on an 80# matte cover
 
Canvas option is a beautiful 1.25" stretched canvas
 
Framed canvas is a beautiful 1.5" stretched canvas in a white float frame (as pictured)
 
Smaller prints are mailed in a protective stay-flat envelope
 
Large prints are rolled and mailed in a heavy duty mailing tube.
 
All artwork is copyright of Malory Fiso @foxandpebble