The Apple Tree

I sat in the back yard at mom and dad's and was taking in all of the surroundings.  The tall corn swaying back and forth with the soft blowing breeze across the corn field, the birds sweetly singing their nature melodies, the fruit trees in the orchard, the grapevines clinging to the guide wires in two neat little rows - the sights and sounds too many to mention.  But as I sat there scanning the back yard and orchard, my gaze stopped short at one of the apple trees.  Several of the original fruit trees have already been cut down for one reason or another and cut into logs. Probably already burnt in the fire place or in a bon-fire.  But I couldn't help but notice this one tree over in the corner of the orchard.  It stood out. It was different. It probably had a story all it's own to tell - if only trees could talk!!!  There wasn't much left of the tree, just a few main branches here and there.  It was obvious that this tree had been more than "pruned". It had some major branches cut from the main trunk of the tree.  I had to take a picture of it so you could see for yourself! 

I told mom that there wasn't much left of that tree.  She said, "no, too many storms had hit it and broken limbs out of it".  I sat there looking at what was left of the tree, thinking of the many, many storms and the bolts of lightning that had passed by that tree down through the years. Some lashing out at it's very limbs - bending and breaking them, leaving some of them hanging from the tree and some falling to the ground with a thud.  I've seen dad go out to the trees many a time with his trusty saw in hand, climb up his ladder, and finish cutting out the bent and broken limbs.

The storms of life can take a toll not only on trees but on you and me as well. Sometimes the storms hit us with great force bending and breaking us, sometimes the lightning strikes, sometimes the wind just blows us to pieces but we have a great God that will see us through the storms of this life.  Sometimes we may need a little pruning and some dead branches cut away so that we can bear fruit.  John 15:1 says, "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit."  Just as dad cut away the rough, torn, ragged dead branches so does God take away the rough, torn, ragged dead branches of our life that will only drain the good from us and hinder us from bearing fruit. 

As mom and I sat looking and talking about the sad looking apple tree in the corner of the orchard, she made a very positive encouraging statement - she simply said, "we can't cut it down - - - it's still bearing fruit"!!!  WOW!  It's still bearing fruit! I like that.  It doesn't have a pretty picture-perfect shape - but it is still bearing fruit! It is not very tall since so many branches have been cut off - but it is still bearing fruit!  It doesn't yield bushels of apples - but it is still bearing fruit!  It doesn't offer much shade to sit under - but it is still bearing fruit!  It doesn't even offer many branches for the birds to sit on - but it is still bearing fruit!  Mom was right, we can't cut it down because it is still bearing fruit!  And you can bet that mom will be picking those apples off of that somewhat wounded-looking, battered up apple tree and making dad some mouth watering home-made apple pie!  And it will be one of the best apple pies you ever tasted!! 

Yes, it is still bearing fruit and so can you and I - no matter what or where we have been.  God will prune us so we can still bear fruit just like the tree in the corner of the orchard that is "still bearing fruit"!!