How Do You Like Them Apples?

A few weeks ago, I was cutting up some apples for my kids. One of them had a bruise. I cut the bruised part off and served the rest...there was nothing wrong with that apple. It made me start to think...

People are like apples. Sometimes, (most of the time, really) we have bruises or bad spots on us. As humans, we have a tendency to throw away a good apple because of the bad spot, instead of cutting it away. That means we might throw away a perfectly good relationship or friendship because we can't look past mistakes or poor choices that others make.

My apple has been thrown away...by several people. Some have dug my apple out of the trash, sat it on the counter but haven't yet decided what to do with it. Some want to forget my old bruised apple ever existed and are attempting to put a brand new apple on the counter for me. Still others left my apple on the counter, but covered it up in hopes the bruise would go away.

I am so thankful that God prunes my apple. He has done much of that in the last several months. As difficult as the process is, I know that my apple is better for it.

I like to think that I wouldn't ever throw anyone's apple away, no matter how bruised it may be. I have been at the bottom of the trash, knowing I am still a great apple, so I wouldn't ever want to do that to another. Lessons learned the hard way!

These thoughts were an epiphany for me. All this from cutting up one little apple for lunch! Isn't God funny?

Stand proud as God's good apple, bruises and all? Don't mind if I do...