cutting and pruning

'... 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...' (John 15.1b-2a)

Cutting and pruning in the Christian life is inevitable, inevitable and painful. The goal of following/remaining in Christ: fruit-bearing.  I may fear that in the process of cutting and pruning this branch will be lost forever. Yes, this is where I am.  Everything that I have come to value as important; aspects of my character, ways of doing things and not doing things, thoughts that edify and thoughts that betray. Sooner or later it might just have to die. The father takes me tenderly in his hands and cuts/prunes right through the imperfection, which to me might look like perfection...