Accidental Harvest

We have a citrus tree in the backyard, a really cool one called a citrus salad tree. There are five main branches grafted together and ideally the tree produces 5 kinds of fruit: pretty green limes, 2 types of oranges, and 2 types of lemons. However, we have had one lime in 5 years, and probably one orange that first year. Last year I don't think we picked anything at all. So I hacked, I mean pruned the tree but I really had no idea what I was doing. To make a long story short, after that I neglected the poor thing and figured we'd never see it bear fruit again.

Last week as I put something away I glanced out the playroom window. When what to my wondering eyes did appear . . . 14 lemons as yellow and pretty as sunshine! They were all on low-hanging branches, hidden from critters and kids.

Our harvest.

 Everyone was so excited! The twins decided to make lemonade right away. The funny thing was, they forgot that lemonade is made with sugar and so they really drank that juice with a puckered smile.

Harrison using the lemon squeezer to juice his fruit.

Cameron did the same.

Harrison's first sip.

Cameron loved his fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

In our lives, sometimes things go poorly and our best efforts seem for naught. We may give up on ourselves but God never leaves us and He never stops caring. Sometimes He sends us something to be a message of hope. For our family, a reminder of God's grace, mercy, and love came through a lemon harvest we neither expected nor deserved, but which we gratefully acknowledged and happily received.