Devotionals

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Apples, Acorns and Oaks, Oh My!
By Missey Butler

Those of us who are geographically fortunate enough to experience the “change of seasons” have to admit that autumn, is certainly a very welcomed and refreshing time of the year. Most of us are just crossing over the finish line of the dog days of summer and are more than ready to fold up our beach chairs and drain the pool as the leaves and pine needles begin their annual descent.

The air conditions are shut off and the windows are gladly opened, in order to allow the cool evening breezes to move over us as we snuggle under a soft blanket while the harvest moon watches from a distance. Leaves quietly rustle as the wide-eyed owl softly “hoots” in perfect rhythm off in a wooded distance.

The backdrop of our everyday lives begins to reveal broad paint-brush strokes of oranges, gold’s, yellows and browns. The neighborhood produce stand proudly displays its’ “Apples for Sale” sign, as the Granny’s, Red Delicious, Macontosh and Rone’s compete to be picked. And of course next to them, no apple would be complete without the recipes of how to candy, or caramelize those beauties!

With cable-knit sweaters tied around our shoulders we ride our bikes down past the pumpkin, peanut and cider stands as they advertise for the local State Fair. Colorful quilt’s and pots of crimson colored Chrysanthemums are tastefully set out for display beside the tall cornstalks and bundles of hay neatly positioned around rows and rows of homemade jams, honey and dried Indian corn.

Nature and all of it’s surroundings gracefully unfold into a season of bountiful harvest. God’s agricultural laws of sowing and reaping show off their finest exhibition of fruits, vegetables, and grains that one could possibly fill in a basket. There is a long standing formula of wonderful provision that first begins with the planting of a single seed. This natural law of reciprocity is not just exclusive to only plants and trees. There are many types of seeds that can be sown. There are the seeds of a kind word or a friendly smile, a helping hand or a pat on the back, a home-cooked meal or a heartfelt “I’m sorry.” On and on the list can go. All of these “giving of yourself” type seeds, after they are sown in the ground can begin to produce quite a large harvest as well! Let’s begin to gather up the fruit of the spirit, for there are many souls in need of this particular bounty of harvest!

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galations 5:22).

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