I am spending this winter thinking
about fruit. Spring is not here yet, but the trees around us are
getting ready to bud. They will produce flower, fruit and seed. And
soon enough, we will be able to visit the orchards and enjoy the
blessing of fresh-picked fruit
Jesus and Paul talk about fruit also.
“I am the vine and you are the branches,” Jesus tells us. When
we are attached to him, good things will grow in our lives. “You
will bear much fruit” is what happens when the branch remains attached to the vine. Paul
describes the flavors this fruit comes in: “The fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
gentleness and self-control.”
Here's a story about one of those
flavors of fruit:
The kingdom of heaven is like a
Thanksgiving dinner.
It was a house filled with happiness.
Grandparents, parents, children, cousins, aunts and uncles gathered
for the annual tradition. Food was shared in abundance along with
stories. Uncle George shared stories everybody had heard at least
once before. A few people rolled their eyes, but most everybody
still laughed at the familiar places, and there were some friendly
backslaps at the predictable punchlines.
After the meal, a group went to the den
to watch football. The cheering and groaning that accompanied each
play could be heard throughout the house. Some people went over to
the couch and continued to share stories, talk about food, and catch
up on news. Some of the women headed to the kitchen to clear and
clean – and grumble, in a not-too-serious way, about the lack of
help from the others.
Annie had to herself into showing up,
but it wasn't easy. She was going through a tough time. Money was
very tight. Her job wasn't going well. And of course there were
relationship issues. Thanksgiving dinner with family is supposed to
be a happy time. She didn't feel happy. She didn't feel like
laughing at Uncle George's stories. A roomful of people making a lot
of noise about football was not going to make her feel any better.
Annie did manage to laugh at some of
the stories, but other stories reminded here of her own difficulties.
After dinner, she helped with the clean up and joined in the
grumbling about the lack of help. Then she found a quiet corner.
Aunt Maggie could see that Annie was
unhappy. She followed Annie to that quiet corner and simply asked,
“What's going on?” Annie began to talk about the money, the job,
and the relationship issues. Aunt Maggie listened. Aunt Maggie
listened some more. And after some more listening, Aunt Maggie
shared some stories from her life. These stories didn't have
punchlines, but they spoke to Annie's needs.
Annie left the house with the same
burdens on her shoulders, but they seemed lighter. She discovered
that she was not alone, that there was somebody to sit alongside her
and listen to her. She was part of a family. There was a feeling of
joy that began to push away the unhappiness that she was carrying.
“I
am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you,
then you will produce much fruit.
. . I
have said these things to you so that my joy will be in you and your
joy will be complete.”
Prayer:
May
I grow in my attachment to Jesus an
others and
may his joy fill up what is missing in my life.
