Christian Living

AN APPLE A DAY

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
05/02/19
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Well, looks like another dreadful day. The dark clouds seem to move swiftly through the sky settling once again on our house and bringing the associated rain beating endlessly against our windows, to the tune of "Give Up, Give Up."

Mom will no doubt be in another of her moods for certain. You see Mom has just not been herself since we lost Dad, a few years ago. Any thought of a dreary day seems to set her off to no end.   

If only Pastor Joe would make his routine visit, or at least call her. You see, Pastor Joe seemed to be the only one who could calm Mom down. However, for some unknown reason, Pastor Joe apparently was not going to visit today.

"Mom, the rain seemed to have let up, why don't you get out and stretch your legs?"

"I believe I will. Think I'll just go shopping, as I do need a few things from the City Food Market. You kids just hang loose and stay dry."

"Seems like Mom is buying out the store, Jim, for she's been out over two hours."

"Well Jane, if she doesn't come back soon, I'll call Pastor Joe to go check up on Mom." 

Time passed in what seemed like an eternity. We finally heard Mom's old rattling junker pull into the driveway. The first thing we noticed was Mom's unusual smile.

"Now, don't say a word kids," exclaimed Mom, "You probably won't understand anyway. You see, I was suddenly awakened out of a well-deserved snooze to the noise of a tapping on my car window. Apparently I had falling asleep in my car in the store parking lot."

"Looking up, and seeing the young store bag boy tapping on my car window, I lowered my car window and spoke to the nice young man."

"Don't tell me, I must have dozed off here in the parking lot. I must be hurrying home, as it's almost dark thirty," I said. And the rest is history. You see, it just had to be a dream. And what a dream it was! I must tell you about it."

"Ok, Mom, just sit down here and tell us all about it. What happened to change your mood?"

For you see, Mom had not smiled since we lost Dad and the doctors had just about given up on her.

"Well kids, I suddenly found myself piddling around in the produce aisle trying to make up my mind on all that delicious fruit when a kind-looking gentleman suddenly appeared out of nowhere.  He smiled and asked if I had tried the apples. He then said that an apple a day would chase the blues away. Suddenly, I remembered the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" but that old proverb didn't seem to fit our conversation."

"'Sir,' I replied, 'I thank you for the advice, but how did you know I needed a remedy for the blues?' The man simply continued his big smile by saying he had a knack for knowing people needs. So, why not just try me by taking a bite from one of those big red apples?"

"Realizing he was right, I did need a change of attitude, I decided to try the apple by taking a big bite. And guess what? A miracle seemed to instantly take place. Suddenly, not only did my entire attitude change but I started quoting Scripture, including your Dad's favorite Bible verse,"

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

"Just one other thing about this stranger, when I turned around to thank him, he had disappeared." And left lying in the apple bin was a colorful Gospel tract with the following front page Scripture verse glowing in the supermarket light, as if to say "pick me up and read me,"

 Keep me as the apple of thine eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings." (Psalm 17:8)

"I continued to read but the one verse that hit me hard was,"

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." (Hebrews 13:2)

"Did this actually happen to me?  Did I encounter the visit of a heavenly being? Well, you be the judge. Nonetheless, I must hurry because today is Wednesday and I must get ready for tonight's prayer service."

"Well OK, Mom," we responded with a watery smile.

"Why, Ms. Gracie, what a pleasant surprise!" exclaimed Pastor Joe. "You haven't attended a midweek prayer service since, well you know what I mean. To what do we owe the pleasure?"

"Well, let's just say, it's the ole "apple a day" syndrome," she replied.

"Pastor Joe just smiled bewilderedly and said, "I certainly hope it's not the "ole garden of Eden syndrome," Madam."  

She just returned the smile and showed Pastor Joe the Gospel Tract left at the supermarket. All of a sudden Pastor Joe's expression changed from that of bewilderment to understanding, as he was directed to read the following Scripture verse,

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:13-14)

As Pastor Joe handed back the tract, he said that the tract must have been sent from Heaven, as it just fit her needs. Amen!

Well, what happened to her life afterwards was nothing short of a miracle. She was so busy as the president of the church's Women's Aid Society that her family hardly ever saw her. Nonetheless, we never complained one bit, for we were too busy eating those big juicy, red apples that she kept on the kitchen table. You know the ones, the ones that keep the blues away, and the doctor as well. Amen!

Author's Postscript

I enjoy spreading the Gospel through my freelance Christian writings.  I pray, that my writings will always center around the Lord's "Great Commission" as outlined in (Acts 1:8). I feel strongly that in today’s hectic, stressful environment, more than any other period of time, God's peace continues to ring true and is freely available to all who will accept His Grace by Faith.(Ephesians 2:8-9)  

Although not actually mentioned in the Scriptures, the old saying 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away' is translated in this brief fiction story as keeping away the blues. Whether or not an apple can do this miracle or not is really based on the power of persuasion or more importantly the power of the Scripture. (Hebrews 11:1, 6)

And although this blog is centered on a fictional character, I trust that the Gospel will be presented by way of this parable by portraying an "earthly story with a heavenly meaning."

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http://ccrobey.wixsite.com/themessage