Growing up in upstate New York, and being just a tiny little bit of a tomboy, I did my fair share of tree climbing. We had tree forts and mulberry fights and it is also just a fabulous way to actually 'hide from the world' because most folks won't look up to find you. Upstate New York also has a plethora of apple trees.
Some of the best apples you'll ever eat are NOT found in the grocery stores, but freshly picked from an orchard tree or perhaps a random golf-course apple tree. The best place to find the best fruit are those very high branches, thinner than most, and way out where the sun can love 'em best. That's where we're headed today . . . out on one of those limbs . . .
Every now and again, you've got to venture out onto a rather flimsy looking limb. You've got to leave the security of the trunk of the tree and seek that yummiest of apples on the outskirts. Sure there is always the chance the branch may break. And yes, the fruit out there might have been ravaged by birds. You might even scrape up your arms and legs getting to where that best fruit is but . . .
Trees tend to have a network of branches. Even if your branch bows or breaks, there are quite a few other branches to hold you up. Whether you get to the apple you were spying or not, there's plenty of other delicious fruit out there, just perfect for chowing. The scraped self you've become will not only be rewarded with an unbelievably mouth-watering apple, but the next time you seek to venture out there, your skills and climbing will be much better and there will be much less bruising and scraping.
We've all got our 'apples' to climb to. We've all got those tiny branches we need to step out on. We've all got to suffer through those bumps and bruises to toughen ourselves up for the next climb. I am high in the tree folks, venturing out on a tiny branch, and armed with nothing but faith, I am certain I will get that apple. I know that the network supporting me will always hold me up and that, with my eyes heavenward, seeking that apple . . . I can do anything!
I wish you a golden, delicious sort of day!
Amen! "I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13
ReplyDelete"But his delight is in the law (word) of the Lord, and on his law (word) HE MEDITATES DAY AND NIGHT. HE IS LIKE A TREE PLANTED BY STREAMS OF WATER, WHICH YIELDS ITS FRUIT IN SEASON AND WHOSE LEAF DOES NOT WITHER. WHATEVER HE DOES PROSPERS.
PSALMS 1:2-3
"NO GOOD TREE BEARS BAD FRUIT, NOR DOES A BAD TREE BEAR GOOD FRUIT. EACH TREE IS RECOGNIZED BY ITS OWN FRUIT...THE GOOD MAN BRINGS GOOD THINGS OUT OF THE GOOD STORED UP IN HIS HEART, AND EVIL MAN BRINGS EVIL THINGS OUT OF THE EVIL STORED UP IN HIS HEART. FOR OUT OF THE OVERFLOW OF HIS HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKS." LUKE 43-45
Beautifully said and scripturaly applied! Thanks!
ReplyDelete