Lisa rolled out of bed and headed downstairs. It was Saturday. She should be excited. But nothing seemed right anymore. It was just another day in her boring life. She shouldn’t complain. Her life was almost perfect. She and Carl just celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary, and the kids were all doing well, out on their own. It wasn’t the empty nest thing. She’d gotten used to the kids being gone a few years ago. But nothing felt right. Even Lauren’s announcement that she was having a baby didn’t lift her from her funk. Sure, Lisa was thrilled she’d be a grandmother by Christmas, but something was definitely missing.

            She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the breakfast table, pondering. When was the last time she’d been truly happy? Truly at peace? She and Carl were just going through the motions now. Go to work, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, and go to bed. Sighing, she sipped from her mug. At least the rich, hot deliciousness of her morning ritual stayed the same.

            Her gaze traveled out the window. A branch had fallen down in that last storm, and they hadn’t gotten around to cleaning it up yet. It lay in the middle of the yard, brown dead leaves covering it. She could relate, feeling a bit like that dead branch.

            Turning her gaze back inside the house, Lisa frowned at the piles of clutter. She’d kept up with the dishes and the laundry, but her organizational skills were a bit lacking. Carl didn’t seem to care, as long as he had a path to his favorite recliner. Maybe that was the answer. Today, Lisa would organize the house. It really was crazy how messy it had become. Without the kids to blame, it was her own sheer laziness.

            Twenty minutes later, after finishing her coffee and strawberry jam-topped English muffin, she stood in her family room, surveying the piles. She gathered everything together, dumped it on the table, and set to work. She dusted and vacuumed every available surface. When the room was picture-perfect, she worked on the pile on the table. She sorted through old grocery circulars, junk mail, and catalogs. Fortunately, there were no unpaid bills in the clutter. And then she saw it. Underneath a pile of travel magazines. How long had it been there?

            She picked up her Bible and brushed her hand across the cover. When was the last time she’d read it? Judging by the amount of clutter that had built up on top of it – quite a while. She’d been so busy helping Anna plan her wedding in the spring. Then they’d all vacationed together at the beach in June. And now, it was August. Could it really have been months since she cracked open her Bible? Was that why she felt this way?

            She and Carl had gone to church every Sunday. Well, no, that wasn’t exactly true, was it? They missed the weekend of the wedding, the week before vacation, while they were gone, and the weekend after, they’d been too tired. Come to think of it, they’d only made it there every couple of weeks this summer. Wow. How had that happened?

            Lisa opened the Bible at the bookmark to see what she had last been reading. John 15. As she read through the chapter, realization dawned. She wasn’t happy or fulfilled. She wasn’t bearing fruit, just like the dead branch in the yard. Without spending time with God, her spirit was drying up and withering like that branch, good for nothing but firewood.

            At that moment, Lisa resolved to make a change. From now on, she was rooting herself in God’s word. A peace filled her soul, unlike anything she’d felt in months. Her loving Father hadn’t forgotten about her. He still wanted to use her. He’d simply been waiting for her to return.

John 15: 1-8.

I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you.

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.

If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

God, Thank You for always wanting to use us to bear fruit. We are at our best when we are serving You. But when we don’t take the time in Your Word, in prayer, or in fellowship with other believers, we become disconnected and unfruitful. Like a branch that has broken from a tree, if we are cut off from our life-giving nutrients, we will also wither and die, spiritually. As we spend time in Your Word and in prayer, please fill our lives with love and meaning. Help us be steadfast and remember where our purpose and nourishment come from. Thank you for being patient and forgiving. In Jesus’ name, Amen.