TITLE: THE SPIRIT SPOKE…. By esther robinson 03/17/06 |
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Bouncing the ball Thara rushed towards the hedge. Her friends closely followed her trying to catch her. Suddenly Thara tripped on the edge of hard wood. “Oh my God!” she exclaimed. Giggling at Thara’s plight her friends ran forward towards the ball that slipped out of her hand. Thara was helpless. She fell into a trance. “Would you like to listen to my story?” she heard a sweet voice. Before she could decide, the spirit of the orange tree spoke. Yes Thara had tripped on the dead stout of an orange tree.
“My Master planted me so lovingly in his sister’s house carrying me from a market ten kilometers away. Tenderly he nurtured me. At first I was thin and tender. Slowly prickles were seen on me. Then they turned into hardy thorns. I was amazed on seeing my transformation. Indeed I was declaring the glory of God. Looking after me as if I were his child, my Master loved me and I loved him too.
My Master’s sister is a wry lady. There was no love in her heart for her own brother. She did not like me growing there. ‘Your tree will occupy more space and I do not know what type of fruits will come out of it’ she said and was threatening to cut me. I bore all these insults for the sake of my Master. I spread branches far and wife. My Master often used to lift up his eyes and look at me lovingly. Then I blossomed and bore delicious fruits. My Master was eagerly waiting to taste the fruits of his labour.
Unfortunately one day his sister and her family members plucked all the fruits and gathered about three sackcloth bags of delicious oranges. They never offered even one to my Master who looked after me all these long years. My heart was aching. I bore those lovely fruits to please my Master, but now what has happened? I began to cry. Somehow I hid one fruit and offered it to my Master. The joy I saw in his face made tears of joy come out of me.
One day my Master’s sister suddenly drove my Master out of the house. I could not live without seeing my Master. The Bible says “Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another” I John 4:11. I wondered how this woman could not love her own brother, her own blood. It is written “If someone says I love God and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” (I John 4:20). “Love does no harm to a neighbour; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10).
I wanted to teach my Master’s sister a lesson. Yes I asked My Creator to punish her for her selfishness and unrighteousness. My heart stopped working. Slowly I began to wither and then I totally dried up. As I was dying I could hear one woman say, “This orange tree has dried, because its dear Master is now not living here. His sister has o love for him at all. On hearing these words I saw his sister’s face shrink. Yes I died to teach her an unforgettable lesson. I am telling you this because I know that yesterday you fought with your brother, isn’t it Thara?” asked the spirit of the orange tree. “My God!” exclaimed Thara who got up limping and blood was oozing out. She went calling her brother “Sam! Sam!” with whom she had fought the day before.
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