The Tangerine

I had been working in the yard for a few hours and decided to take a break and have a tangerine.  I love a cold tangerine!  I plopped down into a comfy chair on the deck, put my feet up and preceded to to peel the tangerine.  I started at the bottom and peeled and peeled and peeled.  It takes time as you know.  As I was peeling I thought about us – us being me, you, people.  I thought about how once we accept Christ He works on us kind of like I am working on this tangerine.  He starts with the first layer, the hardest layer.  Maybe the layer is anger, abuse, alcoholism, drug addiction, unworthiness, fear, sexual addiction – well there are many  more examples but you understand what I am saying.  Anyway, it takes time and sometimes the pieces don’t want to come off but he continues to work on us, never leaving, caring and loving.  Finally the hard shell is gone but what is that? A softer covering that has to be peeled away and just to tease us we see the wonderful fruit peeking through here and there!  So what is all of this?  I thought I was doing so well!  Is it gossip, white lies, taking something that isn’t mine?  I pray for God to help me and He does, He continues to peel and peel and peel.  He loves me and shows me that as He tenderly works on me.  Suddenly there it is!  The fruit, beautiful, colorful, a gift.  But what is this – tiny little pieces that didn’t come off.  Its ok though because I know God will take care of that too!  So that’s what I thought about while I was sitting on the deck having a tangerine!

©2011 Debbie Downs