The Apples 10/14/2012

Good Morning. Very cool rainy day in Wisconsin. I am drinking a big cup of Door County Egg Nog Coffee and hanging with our two dogs Fritz and Gibbs, affectionately know to us as "the guys".

Luke 6:38 

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Unfortunately this past summer brought to many of us in the Midwest an extended drought. I hope I never get to see one again. But despite the weather we actually had a bumper crop of apples from our three trees. My wife and I are very busy and it seemed as if the apples were not going to get picked in a timely manor. I asked a family from our church if they might want to come once again and help us pick the harvest. They have four wonderful kids  and a couple are big enough to climb trees. They graciously agreed.  We always send them home with plenty of apples that they make into products to be used later in the year. They also take some extra to give to others. We have plenty, they get some apples, and they share with others. Sounds great doesn't it?

To us there is another more important by-product of the apples. You see we are empty nesters. Our daughter and her family live in Florida. We miss them a lot and visits come down to a couple per year. It is a very quiet life here. We miss them a lot. Oh I siad that one already. But it needs to be said again.

During the apple picking our yard is filled with laughter, fun, some work and the joy of sharing. You would think that the "sharing" is the apples. Not really. This family comes and shares in the work, the apples, and there time. They also share their family! Who was really blessed more? The family that received some apples? The folks that they shared the apples with?

No, it was us. Despite the drought, God blessed us with apples. We saw His hand at work in our yard. The family helped us with the work and reduced our task. They brought joy and laughter to our home and yard. The two of us talked about it for a couple days and as I write today I can still see apples falling on to Lydia's head. LOL

God tells us to share without expecting anything in return, But I have to say, I think we were the ones who were blessed more.
Have a great Sunday!
Marty