It never ceases to amaze me how God orchestrates the growth in my life, often in ways I don’t see coming. Two years ago, I joined the Bayside Bloomers Garden Club, a decision that felt spontaneous but was truly part of a bigger plan. I’ve always loved flowers, but this journey into gardening has been deeply enriching. Learning about plants, flowers, and how to nurture the environment has transformed me. I still consider myself a chaotic gardener, but that’s okay. In fact, it mirrors what I’m learning about life itself.

Like the native shrubs and perennials in my garden, I’ve come to realize that I can be moved, pruned, and replanted—and yet, I still thrive. The beauty of it is, I don’t have to hold it all together. Just as my garden flourishes through each season with nature’s rhythm, I am learning to let go and trust in a greater process.

Recently, I’ve been reading a book my sister gave me, The Well-Watered Woman (Rooted in Truth, Growing in Grace, Flourishing in Faith). One passage struck me deeply: “A branch is an extension of the vine. If it becomes detached from the vine, it can’t bear fruit. It can’t provide shade. It can’t grow. It can’t survive. Jesus doesn’t call you to do it all—to be everything, to go through life on your own strength. He simply says, ‘Be a branch.’”

Those words brought me such joy and a wave of relief. In today’s world, we’re all under so much pressure to do it all, to be everything for everyone. But the call to just be a branch is a reminder to live with grace and trust. A branch reaches out, it supports new growth, it blossoms, and it undergoes seasons of change. Sometimes it’s bare, other times it’s blooming with life. A branch doesn’t have to be the entire tree.

In John 15:5, Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches.” For me, this means that my strength, my purpose, and my very sustenance come from Christ. I’m not responsible for being everything—I’m simply meant to stay connected to Him.

Yes, there will be pruning, just as I prune my plants in the garden. But that pruning is not to harm—it’s to bring new life. Like the vibrant reds and golds of fall, the delicate flowers of spring, or the sturdy green leaves of summer, my life goes through seasons. And when winter comes—those cold, barren months—I can endure them with strength, patience, and peace, knowing that spring will come again.

As a branch, I find comfort in these truths:

I am connected to a greater source: My life flows not from my own efforts but from Jesus, who provides me with strength, direction, and everything I need.

No branch stands alone: We are all part of a greater structure—one of community, family, friendships, growth, and purpose. 

I exist to grow and bear fruit: My purpose is clear, even if I don’t always know the details. I am called to grow, to extend to otheres, and to flourish—not through striving, but through staying connected to Jesus.

I don’t have to carry the whole burden: Each day, I choose to immerse myself in God’s presence, trusting Him to guide my growth. I don’t have to control everything; I just have to remain connected. And in that connection, I am free to grow naturally, in the season I’m in.

So, in the quiet moments of gardening or in the hustle of daily life, I am reminded: just be a branch. Stay connected, abide and let go of the pressure to do it all. God’s plan is unfolding, and in His time, I will bloom exactly as I was meant to.