“Remain in My love.” // John 15:9
In my backyard stands a beautiful, battle-weary peach tree. It’s survived blistering heat, punishing hail, epic blizzards, and a recent tornado.
One particular April, the peach tree almost met its match. The fragrant pink blossoms were already in full show, a few fading to reveal fuzzy green peach nubs in the center. Then temperatures dropped and ten inches of wet, heavy snow dumped overnight. The branches were weighed down to the ground, and one main branch completely sheared away from the trunk. I watched, heartbroken, as my husband sawed it off—blossoms and all. I dragged it toward the trash barrels in the side yard, but couldn’t bring myself to take it to the curb just yet.
The next few weeks as I delayed the inevitable, I could only marvel. The unopened buds continued to bloom, blossoms gave way to fuzzy nubs, and the nubs grew into quarter-sized fruit. It was fascinating: the branch contained enough life to keep growing and bearing fruit—but only to a point. After three weeks, the fruit dried up and the whole branch shriveled and died, just as I knew it would. Tragically, I dragged it to the curb.
Jesus tells us that He is the Vine and we are the branches (see John 15). Like the peach tree branch, we cannot last long detached from our Source. We might see signs of growth and convince ourselves that we can run on self-reliance. Yet without daily, personal relationship with our Lord—which the Catechism defines as prayer—our growth will cease (source). God’s life in our souls will slowly wither and die; our fruit will inevitably shrivel up.
The good news? Unlike that peach tree branch, we can be grafted back onto our Source. Jesus Himself made a way to restore us to full relationship with Him through the Sacrament of Confession and prayer. No matter how detached you are, healing and restoration are possible.
How have you detached from the true Vine? Your fruit is too precious to wither away in self-reliance. Today, turn to Him in prayer. Ask Him to graft you back into His Heart, and let Him reinfuse you with His sustaining life.
Megan Hjelmstad (“Helm-stead”) is a wife, enthusiastic hockey mom, and Army Veteran living in Denver, CO. After serving fifteen years in the United States Army, Megan now serves the Church as an author, speaker, and women's mentor in her “spare” time. Megan loves to share God’s hope in suffering and is the author of Offer it Up: Discovering the Power and Purpose of Redemptive Suffering. She’s a long-time team member of Blessed is She and a writer and speaker for several other ministries. Megan adores books, sleep, sunshine, and Colorado’s great outdoors almost as much as she adores Jesus in the Eucharist. Learn more at MeganHjelmstad.com.
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