There was once a little apple tree that stood in the midst of a vast orchard. Because it was the youngest of all the trees, its branches were very slender and not yet strong in comparison to the older trees surrounding it. Daily, it loved to reminisce about the first day when the farmer had come to the nursery and had found him aside a few other rotting plants that had been thrown away and were now lying in the hot sun to die. The compassionate farmer, seeing that there was still life in the little tree’s small, dry branches, graciously saved him from the ravages of the sun, and took it home to be planted among his other beautiful apple trees, which had rested in his orchard for many years. Not only did the farmer plant it just anywhere in this vast orchard; but he planted the little tree near a small, crystal pond, which lay at the orchard’s center and contained the most nutritious supply of water and fertile soil.
Every day, after it had been planted, the farmer would come and spend time caring for the little tree’s dry roots and shriveled stems. He would water it, fertilize its soil, and place moist bark on top of its roots to keep them from becoming even more dehydrated. The little tree had come to love and cherish the relationship that it had with the farmer. Each day, the farmer would joyfully sing and whistle accompanying the singing of the birds, nesting nearby; and the little tree would respond to is tunes by shaking its branches cheerfully as the many breezes caught its leaves with their whimsical tugs.
Its life had been quite pleasant, during those first few years living among the other trees, until it began noticing something that was different between them. The older trees were able to create something beautiful at the end of the warm, summer months, while its slender stems remained bare year after year. Aside from their glossy green leaves, theirs stems held hundreds of brilliantly colored ruby and golden circular forms, which bobbed about in the bright light of late summer. “What are those beautiful gems that you are creating,” it said, one day, questioningly to another apple tree. “These are apples!” exclaimed the older tree that stood right next to him. “They are what we trees create when we are able; and since the farmer has been so gracious to care for us and feed us year after year, it is our responsibility to produce the most beautiful apples for him in hopes of a plentiful harvest. He has given us this great responsibility that we take very seriously; and you will need to as well as you continue to grow older and stronger in form.”
The little apple tree thought for another moment and then asked, “Well, why have I not created apples before like all of the other trees in the orchard? Am I not an apple tree as you are?” “You are,” said the older and wiser tree, “But it may take more time before you produce any fruit like ours because of your smaller and more fragile frame. Your limbs simply are not yet strong enough to bear the weight of the fruit as we do.” With that, the older tree gently turned its branches away from the little tree and began discussing the upcoming harvest with the other older trees; for they were hoping that the farmer would come to the orchard soon and relieve them of their apple’s extra weight, which was bearing heavily upon their limbs.
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