On a bright beautiful Sunday morningAs the birds of the air were squeakingI rose up at the dawn of the dayAs my heart kept repeating it’s my birthday

There were so many things ringing in my mindPlan, expectations and excitement of a kindDespite all everything, I ran to the large tableTo see if my daddy had bought me an apple

“Daddy should have forgotten to buy”, I said to myselfIt was disappointing, though there were others' presentsDaddy is definitely too rich, should he run out of money?What if I may get them this evening to eat them with honey?

In the evening came my dad’s car, I ran and opened the doorIn came my daddy with a briefcase and nothing moreWhen I could not wait any longer, I asked my daddyIf he had bought me an apple, at least one if not many

“Not yet my sweet heart”, replied dad with a smileA smile not ordinary but had something more than a mileI went back to my room pondering what this smile could meanAnd heard my dad say “son, we’re going out get ready”

My eyes grew big, believing there is still hope for me“it is to the apple shop”, I thought then I quickly got readyWe got ourselves on the car, the shop wasn’t too farMy dad had brought his briefcase, and I wondered what for?

When we neared the shop the car did not seem to stopThinking I should remind my daddy I said here is the shop“I know that my son, we’ve got a distance to go”, said my daddyThat my hope for an apple began to vanish as my heart grew heavy

As we kept going, I happened to see a boy, shabby and blandHolding his father’s hand with an apple in another handMy eyes welled up but I managed to lock my tearsHow I wish I was that boy though poor but happy and dear

Hardly did I know where we were heading toI didn’t bother to know, it had been over an hour or twoQuestions filled my mind with no answers behindHas my father’s love changed for he doesn’t seem to mind

Questions filled my mind with no answers behind

As I was lost in my thoughts, I noticed the car had stoppedMy dad with his briefcase asked me to step outI found no shop, no restaurant, no parkExcept the wood full of trees that were big and dark

My dad held me tight and we walked a few yards aheadAt a distance stood a man, with papers in his handsThe two men signed the papers then the man lead us to a postThat read, “This is an apple orchard from daddyto the son I love the most”

to the son I love the most”

My beloved, greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, the apple mentioned above could be anything to you. It could be something precious and very dear to you.

Like the small boy if you are to pass by the apple shop with tears for Jesus' sake and the sake of the calling that is upon you and if you happen to see people around you enjoying their apples, whereas you stand with none of it, I want you to be reminded that our God is a good master and a loving Father. He knows your heart and cares for every secret tears of yours. Like the father who provided an apple orchard to his son who had just asked for an apple, God will certainly provide you much more than what you would have ever imagined at the right time (His time). Let us be encouraged from what the word of God says,

John 16:20- Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices, you will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.

Matthew 16:25- For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.

Matthew 19:29- And everyone who has left their houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.

Matthew 7:11- If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Romans 8:18- I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Let us with reverence and sincerity march ahead with Jesus, with the hope of the glorious future, trusting in His unfailing love. God loves you and He knows you.