The Lemon Tree Part 2

A couple of years ago I told you about my lemon tree. I called it my “Charlie Brown Lemon Tree.”  It was a gift from some dear friends that we planted in the Spring of 2021.  In the fall of that year it produced seven lemons. This, in spite of the fact that it was less than two-feet tall.  Quite frankly, it had not grown in height or width since it was planted.  Then, last year was the same. This time there were six lemons, but the tree was still less than two-feet tall. 

            Last winter we had a hard freeze.  For several nights I covered the little tree with a blanket. Once the freeze ended, it looked bad. I was afraid I had lost it.  But then there were blooms in the Spring. And the leaves were bright green.  Still, it had not grown.

            So, I did what several folks had advised me to do. I broke off every bloom. I did not leave any.  Well, here we are in late October, and there are no lemons on the tree. But…the tree is almost four-feet tall. It has spread nearly that wide.  It has new growth and looks extremely healthy. Still, no fruit this year.

            My little tree reminds me of some truths in the Christian life.  There are times that we must sacrifice in the short-term for long-term gain.  We are not to live only for today. No, in fact we are not simply living for tomorrow. We are living with eternity in mind. And that will change your perspective on everything. 

            The truth is that I will not know for sure if I have done the right thing with my little tree until next year, or even further into the future than that.  But I want the tree to be healthy, not simply to produce a few lemons now. I want it to be strong enough to bear the weight of a good harvest in the future. And I want that for my own life as well. I want to finish well.  I pray that for you, too. Let us live our lives with eternity in mind.