I took a walk last week, on the day after our first snow
here in Colorado . The air was nippy but not wintry yet,
fighting its way back to sunny seventies soon.
My boots beat along the sidewalk, until I came beneath a certain
tree. No one had warned it about the
snow the night before. It had been
bearing the glorious fruit of autumn only a few days prior – the air a balmy 80
degrees. Who knew that cold would come?
I picked my way around fallen fruits, darkened by separation
from the sap – whether because of the cold hardening the nutrients yesterday or
from today when the branch let go, I couldn’t tell. But what was plain to see was that the tree
had surrendered to the surprise. It didn’t
keep on with its job of growing fruit.
Instead it let them splatter the ground, making an ugly mess.
So I pulled my jacket close against the wind, bowed my head
beneath the somber scene, and prayed to not be like that tree. Don’t let me give in to bitterness just
because hard things were unexpected.
Please, God, let me be useful to You no matter what, to be drawing near
and bearing fruit of love and joy and truth and glory to You. Give me faith to keep trusting even when
things look bleak.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed
you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should
remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” ~
John 15:16
To God be all glory.
1 comment:
Lisse,
It's been a hard day; and, then I read your post.
No words really, mainly tears.
"Don't let me give in to bitterness just because hard things were unexpected."
Sometimes the hard things are unbearably hard. Praying for faith that trusts when "things look bleak." He is trustworthy even when it doesn't feel so. I love you dear friend.
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