The missing peach

O ur youngest son Jack is awesome. I might be biased in my assessment of him but he is in the coffee business, plays just about any musical instrument, he’s left handed, besides Willie he is about the only person I know that can rock the pigtails. He loves life, works hard, plays hard and loves his momma. Does it get any better than that?

We have spent several nights at his house in the lower Greenville area of Dallas over the last few months and he is always a great host. On our last trip I noticed he had a peach tree in his backyard. You know the kind that comes in a bucket from The Home Depot, just inside the gate there it was a peach tree in a bucket. I thought it was interesting that this cool, bad to the bone 30-year-old was interested in growing peaches? Oh well, I didn’t ask about it. After all, a man's peaches are his own business.

Then la st n ig ht he called his mom, apparently there was one peach growing on this tree, being nurtured, becoming ripe while under the watchcare of this young man and then it happened. He came home from work, and someone had stolen his one peach. The one peach, he was carefully stewarding. Someone opened the gate to his backyard, picked the peach, left his backyard and left the peach tree peach-less. Jack was devastated. A fter t his p each had reached its peak maturity, he was going to have friends over and divide the peach among his friends to enjoy the literal fruit of his labor. He was upset and I get it. Being violated is never fun. Just like Job’s friends I just wanted to sit on the curb in ashes and weep with my friend, my youngest son Jack.

I’ve decided to turn my frustration into something more positive and creative. I’m writing a children’s book called, The Case of the Missing Peach. In my story, as people search for the peach, they find out the homeless man who lives among the trash cans in the alley behind all the nice houses on Matilda Avenue stole it. This dirty man never gets to shop at Whole Foods and eat the most organic and freshest produce so in a moment of weakness (we all have them) he took the peach and he ate the peach and he enjoyed the peach even though he knew it was wrong.

My point is what do we do when we find out someone has harmed us, hurt us, or stolen from us? That’s the real mystery, isn’t it? Peaches come and go. Life happens but what do we do with life when it happens? Divorce happens, friends become enemies, jobs give up on us, even our families can become the source of pain and hardship. What do we do?

First of all, if you love Jesus, revenge is not an option. Even praying that someone get shingles is out of the question. Romans 12:19 tells us, “Never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” If someone needs a shot to the shorts God can do it so stay in your lane. Act like the Christian you say you are.

Second, let the Lord comfort you in your pain. Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” God is a healer, let Him work out the healing process while He comforts you.

Third, don’t let the wound become a sore that won’t go away. “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice (Ephesians 4:31).” Bitter, angry people are not attractive. Be beautiful in the eyes of God, be an attractive Christian, be hopeful, thankful and joyful even while enduring challenging seasons.

I’m sorry if your one peach was stolen. God has a plan, trust Him as His plan unfolds in your hurt and hardship. Remember God is for you, so who can really be against you (Romans 8:31).

He told me to tell you that.