I remember crying and praying for a mentor, someone in my field to build me up not only professionally but personally and spiritually. It hits so different when it’s all three—especially as a young Black woman in corporate America. To have that person who not only fills your cup when it is low, but who senses when you need it and cares enough to refill it. She’s no ordinary cup re-filler, but a magician who makes an empty cup overflow.

I met my mentor, Sophia, early in 2020 during my interview process with Hallmark Mahogany. I knew she was someone I would connect with when my interview truly felt like a conversation. We had that initial kiki moment to help break the ice, and from there she made it a warm and inviting dialogue. After the interview, I left feeling like this is the team and organization for me—like I could really make an impact here. Since then, I have been working closely with her and she continues to mentor me and push me to greatness in every aspect—professionally, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally!

During our weekly touch base, Sophia, was tending to her plants. She mentioned—super casually—how she was speaking to them as she was treating them. She was pulling off dead leaves and saying to them, “This is for you. It is for your benefit, and it’ll help you grow.” Then she pivoted and spoke a word to me, “How can I speak this into plants and not realize God speaks this to me?” When I say that was a word, chil’ it was a wordto me (get you a Sophia, I swear). We literally talked for the next 30 minutes about how God was doing this very thing in our lives.

I’ve been getting rid of so much “stuff” and junk in my life I didn’t even notice. I ain’t realize it’s pruning season for Sharnel. I’d started decluttering my house, giving away kitchenware (I don’t need 20 coffee mugs) and clothes 10 years too small. I’d been pruning my social media, too. Profiles that didn’t “spark joy”, as Marie Kondo would say, I’d unfollow. It’s been hard because my profile has been on private since high school, and I’ve only followed people I met/knew and vice versa. So, everyone I unfollowed (minus blogs and famous people) I’d had an ‘attachment’ to.

According to the dictionary, pruning is cutting back, trimming, cutting off to increase fruitfulness and growth. Ain’t that a word? If plant parents can do that with plants, can’t God do that with us? I’m in the season where God is removing the dead, debris, and trimming everything that’s not of Him to make room for fruitfulness, growth, and ultimately greatness.

I am not sure how long I’ve been in this season of pruning, but if I think back, I know He’s been working on me in this season for a minute. I am so thankful God has given me awareness for this season because I am leaning into it more than ever. I prayed, “Lord, please remove anything that’s not of You in my life,” and here I am in this season. Friends? Gone. Jobs? Gone. Clothes? Gone. Material items I had attachment too? Gone! Like the wind. And I wasn’t sad anymore letting these things go. It was a weight lifted off me. Pruning season has left me lean (figuratively—working on that physical part still!).

Anything that has gone or was given away, I pray and hope it blesses the next person. I strive to be a blessing to others—whether it’s in my giving or connections—as God has been, and continues to be, a blessing to me.

If I held on so tightly to everything, I couldn’t make room for His blessings. How can you receive anything with your hands closed? That’s how God works. In my season of pruning, I’m giving away and letting go of everything, material and immaterial, to make room for something greater. I am so ready to receive!

As the season of giving approaches, what are you letting go in order to receive? What have you been pruning?