Johnny Appleseed

Today is National Johnny Appleseed Day. The day that is set aside to honor John Chapman who introduced apple trees to large parts of, we'll say, the mid-Atlantic. I like apples. I can think of a lot of things made with and from apples that I really like: apple sauce, apple butter, apple jelly, apple slices, apple juice, apple pie, etc. Thanks Johnny for helping others find the goodness in apples.

When I think about apples, the first thing I think about is their crispness and shininess. When you walk the produce aisle at the market, the apples are always abundant and always shiny. Yet, they aren't that way in the field. We have some apple trees at the house and seldom does an apple come from one of those trees all shiny and glowing. No, in order to get it shiny, you have to apply some pressure and clean it up.

Today's word is Psalm 17:8, NIV, which reads, "Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings."

We, as His children, are the apple(s) of GOD'S eye. He loves us. He dotes on us. He loves to give us good things and to give them abundantly. Yet, sometimes, we get ourselves into a mess and end up "dirty". Just like apples in the wild, in order to clean us up, GOD has to apply some pressure and wipe us clean. It is uncomfortable, but it is absolutely necessary from time to time to bring back our shine.

In honor of Johnny Appleseed Day, go out and eat something apple-y. Then, remember that we are the apples of GOD'S eyes, and He wants us to shine.

Be Blessed,
Mickey T