Cherries

Last year, the birds got my three cherries. I had wrapped the tree in bird netting and then noticed one of the cherries as it just came half ripe had disappeared! So I put a double wrap around the tree, but this just gave the birds a stronger toe hold to steal from. I didn't get to try any. Well, I will confess, I did find one cherry half pecked and a bit sizzled by the sun and was so annoyed, I pecked the other side and then dropped it in horror that I had been so desperate for a sample of my first cherries that I could have done such a thing.

First fruits. Well, they went to God's creatures. An offering to God. I often think as I see the little containers that are dappled about on the pavement in places like Bali, about how many of God's creation get to enjoy the offerings laid out for the deities. Sweet cut fruit and scented flowers, within the grasp of a hungry monkey must be such a gift. If I think about my cherries being processed by a thrush or a blackbird on behalf of God, then it isn't quite so bad.

There's nothing like delayed gratification to work character into a person. I never learned that as a young person. But now, I can thank God that I have a chance when I have to wait another year for another hope of tasting a cherry.

But a year has gone by. This time, I learned from my past failure. My cherry tree was bursting with blossoms. So, I bought two huge frames. They were meant to be garden arches. They had to be fitted together and that was no easy task. Then I threw two huge nets over them and pegged them all around the tree. This meant I had purchased, two nets, two arches and several packets of metal pegs. Cost? Maybe $50, if I add it all up.

The flowers dropped their petals and small fruit hung from little clusters on the boughs. But within a few weeks, it became apparent that there were just two cherries. Yes, just two. My huge frame and netting plan was for two cherries. Two cherries, might cost about 10 cents I suppose. But they were my cherries on my tree!

I finally tasted my cherries. I was a little premature, but also nervous that one more day to ripen them just a little more might mean one more day for a wiley bird to figure how to steal them. Life is a cherry they say. And I love cherries and I love a lot of things about life too. And sometimes, life like these cherries, after all the anticipation and best laid plans, just tasted, ok. Not wonderful, not delectible, not bursting with sweet juice and flavour, just ok.

But, it was all still worth it. I cheated the birds and this time, it was my turn to eat the fruit of my labour. Maybe God feels like this, when he waits patiently, tends our souls, guards us, feeds us, gives us living water and then some temptation comes along and steals our hearts. Then he waits again for the right time, and we ripen for his harvest again.

Sometimes, we offer ourselves and it is good, but it is just ok. Sometimes, we offer ourselves and what we give is the best of everything within us. I want to offer the best to him. If my life is a cherry to him, then I want my life to be like those big sweet fruitful ones that I still remember from two years ago from the country stand.