I’ve been a fruit tree for several years now. It’s not a bad life, but one with some definite quirks and challenges. Some I’ve learned to live with, some I still struggle with.

When I was a young fruit tree, I took great pride in the fruit I produced. I was proud of it, admired it and thought it was great. Then someone came and took it from me. I didn’t even get to eat any of it. I never got to enjoy it. Possibly because I am a fruit tree and don’t have a mouth, just roots. Then, what happened next was even more disturbing. The same people that came and took my fruit away, returned to cut branches off of me. This was painful and seemingly unnecessary.   This didn’t make any sense. If I am to produce the most fruit, I need as many branches as I can grow. Making fruit and lots of it is my distinct purpose in life. Fruit is my great contribution to the world! Being a young fruit tree, I was enraged. What a great injustice! I produced that fruit. What right do you have to take it? How dare you then come back and limit my ability to grow more fruit by trimming off pieces?

I then had to come to terms with the fact that I cannot move. I am rooted in one spot. I cannot choose my circumstances. I cannot control the quality of the soil I have been given. Nor can I control the amount of rain I receive. This too seems unfair. Sometimes, things are good with lots of nourishment with which to make fruit. Other times are bad and I am expected to make a lot out of not much. How can I expect to conduct my work and live out my purpose in such uncontrollable conditions?

As I have gotten a little older, having been through this cycle many times I have discovered that I am put to a decision. Do I want to be an angry fruit tree or do I want to be a happy fruit tree. If I want to be angry, I have every right. People come and take my fruit and those same jerks cut pieces from me. None of my produce is for me to enjoy, but only for the benefit of others. I cannot control my location, the nutrients I get and am left to deal with whatever comes my way. Of course I should be angry.

However, I do have an alternative. What if I decide to be a happy fruit tree? What if I see my life purpose of bearing fruit as a great benefit to others? I am actually creating great fruit for the enjoyment of those that come and take it. They cannot steal what I am freely giving away. The trimming of my branches does not limit my production, it allows me to make fewer individual pieces, but they are really good instead of being just average. This painful practice is for the betterment of all. Even though I cannot change my location, when I look around, I see a stream not far away. Maybe I could send my roots that direction and draw continual nourishment. I cannot control my circumstances, but possibly influence them a little bit. I might then be able to make fruit more frequently.

Ultimately, the choice is mine. After all, being a fruit tree, stuck in this spot out here in the woods, there is no one to ask.