PICKING APPLES

If you have never picked an apple fresh

off a tree and eaten it before

then you are missing something.

There is nothing quite so sweet,

so refreshing,

and so delicious as a freshly picked apple.

With the very first bite

you can feel your eyes widen as the

tantalizing juices flow into your mouth.

It is almost as if you have taken a taste

of pure joy and vitality.

I think at times that God must have put

a little extra love into making

this wondrous fruit.

I have already picked and eaten

a few apples this year.

It is a shame to see so many falling

to the ground unpicked.

Even these aren't going to waste, though.

More than once I have seen the local deer

sneaking out of the woods for a

delicious breakfast of freshly

fallen apples.

Deer are smart enough to know

a good thing when they see it.

You know there is another

wonderful apple that we all can pick,

eat, and enjoy any time of the year.

It is an apple that feeds

not only the body

but the heart and mind as well.

This apple is called love and it grows

on that tree of goodness

and joy known as the soul.

Mother Teresa once said that,

"Love is a fruit in season at all times,

and within the reach of every hand."

It is sad that so many people

let it rot on the branches instead

of picking it, feasting on it,

and sharing it with the world.

I hope that you don't let the apples

of your love go to waste.

I hope that you pick bushel after bushel

and give them freely

to everyone around you.

I hope that you make Apple pies,

Apple crisp, Applesauce,

Apple cider, Apple juice,

Fried apples, Carmel apples,

and Apple jelly.

I hope that you set the table and invite

everyone

to this glorious God given feast.

I hope that you use the fruit

of your glorious love

to help feed this hungry world.

By: Joseph J. Mazzell

Galatians 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love,

Joy, peace, longsuffering,

Gentleness, goodness, faith,

Meekness, temperance:

Against such there is no law.