What wonderous love the Gardner has for his garden. And what love in turn has the bramble for so good a Gardner. For it has pleased the Gardner to come to the aid of so wild a bramble. In this time of Lent, the Gardener has drawn close to the bramble and sought to uproot from around him the stubborn weeds which have persisted for many years, most especially that one weed which grows tall and proud among his branches. This has truly been a gift from the Gardner and the bramble is ever grateful.
For joy is now the brambles, but it is a joy born of humility and grace. For it has not been the efforts of the bramble that have freed him from the weeds, but the careful uprooting by so good and patient a Garnder.
What more can the bramble do then rejoice in such a great gift. For it has pleased the Gardener in his time to uproot the weeds among his branches. Long has the bramble asked for such a gift! And so it is and has pleased the Gardener to do.
“O gracious and loving Lord, be pleased to pour out your mercy and grace on so lowly a bush. Thank you for this great gift of freedom in your garden. For freed from the weeds among my branches, I can all the more spread deeps my roots. Draw nearer to me Lord, and do not abandon me. Do not let pride flourish among my branches, but let humility and grace be round about me. Amen.”
The Bramble of the Lord 