IN THE STORM

The fruit-loaded peach tree compensated for the previous year’s skimpy harvest.

But to our dismay a storm with high winds, thunder and lightning was followed by torrential rains. The wind wrenched the branches from the trees, narrowly missing the bedroom window by a few centimetres.

‘We will have to ask Peter to cut them off,’ I said, anticipating our son-in-law’s help. But I sighed at the prospect of losing those slowly-developing peaches.

However, my wise husband beckoned me outside. ‘Look’, he said, ‘That branch is still attached to the trunk.’

‘But it is only a small piece,’ I countered.

‘Yes, but it is still connected. We will wait to see the outcome.’

Gloomily I mused, ‘That is the end of the peach crop,’ never anticipating a surprise.

Several months later, by which time I expected the the branch to wither and die, the peaches began to develop. As the summer approached, and with the summer heat, the peaches filled out and gradually turned pink. The crop that eventuated benefited families and friends, with preserves stored for winter months.

Then to our surprise as the sap flowed, from the large branch sprang a tiny, green shoot, which grew into a productive branch the following year. Neither rain, nor wind, thunder or lightning detached that branch from the tree trunk.

Every christian faces storms. Sometimes discouragement, or trials, testings

( spiritual, physical and emotional,) sometimes bereavement, but when attached to the trunk, nothing - NOTHING -nothing can separate us from the One who gives the spiritual sap for His fruit to develop in our christian life. God’s fruit is love, joy, patience, meekness, humility, peace, and all the holy characteristics that flow from a close attachment to Jesus Christ, who is the Trunk or the Vine.

Spiritual sap flows from the vine, so the sap of the life of Christ produces fruit in us. God purposes a crop from us, and the fruit matures as we abide in the One who supplies the life-sap of the Holy Spirit. Abiding is not passive, for it involves interaction, and results in fruit. As we read the Scriptures, obey as we read, and apply God’s truth to our lives, we rest in the Vine, the crop pleasing our Lord, and blessing others.

Yes, the sap enabled the branch of our peach tree to grow and develop. How much more are we able to grow in our faith as we are attached to The Vine, who supplies the spiritual sap to strengthen and produce fruit.

Despite life’s storms, John wrote, ’ I Am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man remain in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit: apart from Me you can do nothing.’ ( John 15:5 )

Gwenda invites you to read the children’s stories for your own or grandchildren.