[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":4},["ShallowReactive",2],{"reading-0219":3},"FEBRUARY 19\r\nAnd every branch that beareth fruit he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit (John 15:2).\r\nA child of God was dazed by the variety of afflictions which seemed to make her their target. Walking past a vineyard in the rich\r\nautumnal glow she noticed the untrimmed appearance and the\r\nluxuriant wealth of leaves on the vines, that the ground was given over to a tangle of weeds and grass, and that the whole place\r\nlooked utterly uncared for; and as she pondered, the Heavenly\r\nGardener whispered so precious a message that she would fain pass it on:\r\n\"My dear child, are you wondering at the sequence of trials in your life? Behold that vineyard and learn of it The gardener ceases to\r\nprune, to trim, to harrow, or to pluck the ripe fruit only when he  expects nothing more from the vine during that season. it Is left to itself, because the season of fruit is past and further effort\r\nfor the present would yield no profit Comparative uselessness is\r\nthe condition of freedom from suffering. Do you then wish me to cease pruning your life? Shall I leave you alone?\" And the\r\ncomforted heart cried, \"No!\" --Homera Homer-Dixon.\r\nIt is the branch that bears the fruit, That feels the knife,\r\n\r\nTo prune it for a larger growth, A fuller life.\r\nThough every budding twig be lopped, And every grace\r\nOf swaying tendril, springing leaf, Be lost a space.\r\nO thou whose life of joy seems reft, Of beauty shorn;\r\nWhose aspirations lie in dust, All bruised and torn,\r\nRejoice, tho' each desire, each dream, Each hope of thine\r\nShall fall and fade; it is the hand Of Love Divine\r\nThat holds the knife, that cuts and breaks With tenderest touch,\r\nThat thou, whose life has borne some fruit Mayst now bear much.\r\n--Annie Johnson Flint.",1783499792049]