For a third time this season, I picked up apples under the apple tree in the southeast corner of my yard.

My more than thirty year old apple tree has a reputation of tasty apples. So what do I do with the battered and bruised fruit?

I picked them up. Tossed a few which were too bruised. But most had minor bruises or 'bug bites'. I took the bucket into the house and began the process of rescuing the 'good' parts of each apple. I could peel and cut up the 'saved' portions. No apple peeler for the 'beat up' apples.

What was good was worth saving! Peel, cut out the centers, slice. And bag. It made a half dozen gallon bags, ready for apple crisp or apple pies, ready for the freezer and future tasty morsels.

As I worked on the damaged fruit, I couldn't help but think of God and what He does for each of us. He says, "I am the vine and you are the branches." And 'if we remain in Him, we shall produce a large crop of fruit."

As life continues, we can get battered by choices we might make or things which come our way. But what does He do if 'we fall off the tree;? He gently picks us up, cuts off the 'bad spots' and slices up the good parts and stores us to be used in other ways. Turning each of us into a beautiful pie or apple tart.

We are never too damaged to be tossed by the wayside. He has a re-purpose for each of us!

Now that is love and care! I will take it!!