The Authenticity of Fruit
A Lesson from Aunt Elsie’s Dining Room
Growing up, I vividly remember visiting my aunt’s home, where a peculiar centerpiece caught my attention. A bowl of artificial fruit, complete with waxy apples and grapes, sat proudly on her dining room table. My dad, always the jokester, would tease my aunt by pretending to take a bite out of one of the fake fruits, prompting a predictable “DON’T DO THAT!” from Aunt Elsie.
The Imitation vs. the Real Deal
Those artificial fruits, whether made of wax or shiny red wood, serve as mere representations of the genuine article. They lack the sweetness, juiciness, and tantalizing aroma of fresh, ripe fruit. As Oswald Chambers so eloquently puts it, “It is not that God makes us beautifully rounded grapes, but that He squeezes the sweetness out of us.” In other words, God didn’t create us to be perfectly formed, lifeless imitations; rather, He designed us to be vibrant, living beings that radiate the life of Christ.
The Power of Squeeze
Squashed grapes, crushed by the weight of life’s circumstances, may appear unappealing, but to those who are hungry, even they can become a precious morsel. Similarly, when life’s challenges and people “squeeze” us, we have a choice: to release the fragrance of Christ or to wither away. Unlike the grape, we possess the power to respond, to allow the sweetness of Christ to flow out of us, drawing others to His loving presence.
A Prayer for Authenticity
Father, help me recognize Your hand in every circumstance, every person who comes my way. May I see the “squeezing” of life as an opportunity to release the authentic aroma of Christ, drawing others to Your loving heart.
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