Scripture:
Sirach 27:4-7
1 Corinthians 15:54-58
Luke 6:39-45
Reflection:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit.” Luke 6:43-44
I have a friend who started out her young adult life in the wrong lane. She did some drugs, moved in with her boyfriend and also suffered some abuse from other men. Two years later she married her boyfriend and the first 15 years of their marriage were very rocky and filled with threats of divorce. She was raising three children by this time, and was very unhappy. Their life certainly looked like a “rotten tree.”
At the time when they were ready to call it quits, they turned their lives over to Jesus and the transformation began. This year they are celebrating 30 years of marriage, still have four boys at home (the first three of their seven children are married and have children of their own.) They are a model family and their fruit testifies that even though they had a long, rough start, they are now “good trees bearing good fruit.” They are beloved members of their church who help other married couples who are struggling.
The point is, never give up on the “bad trees” in your family orchard. There is always hope! Keep praying for those kids and grandkids who may have gone astray. I know my friends’ grandmother never quit praying for her. There is good and bad in all of us, but it’s comforting to know that we can always come back to our Savior, and He will pick us up and help us start again.
Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Bainbridge Island, Washington, and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Janice also leads women’s retreats and recently published her second book: God IS with Us. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].