Life is like an Amond!

A Lesson Learned: by Robin Thomas

No it’s not a typo. Life IS like an Amond. Why an Amond you say?

When I was a little girl I lived in a suburb of Clayton, California called Glen Almond. Our property was the proud home of 13 Almond trees. Now what happens to Almond trees during harvest time? You knock the “L” out of them trying to get them off the trees. An old joke in the ‘hood!

Almond trees bloom with small pinkish white blossoms, and when you would come down the very steep hill into the Glen you would see all the Almond trees in bloom, on all the properties in this suburb. I remember thinking they looked like popcorn trees, it really was a glorious sight.

After the blooms, the nuts mature on the trees in a protective hull. When the almonds are ready to harvest the hull splits and the almonds have to be knocked out of the trees with long poles. Each tree produces quite a few almonds and times 13 trees you can imagine it was no small job. Once you get them off the trees they have to be “hulled” where all of the nuts are separated from the hull. Then in order to enjoy that raw almond, it then needs to be cracked producing that lovely nut which you buy at the grocery store while complaining of the price.

My grandfather used to sit for hours hulling almonds. It was tedious, repetitive work, but I think he liked the idea of being useful.

Life is like an Amond. You bloom through your younger years, your hurts and prejudices create a protective “hull” around you and then trial and hardship knock you around and shake you up, only to have the outer layer peeled off by a kind individual, a friend, a Savior, that takes the time to gently remove the shell around you and reveal the inner treasure.

“Circumstances do not make the man they reveal him.” -James Allen

Who will you be when, not if, life knocks the “L” out of you?

You can remain in your hull and rot, or you can be hulled and cracked open to reveal the nut, the heart.

As Jesus spoke with his disciples on the night before his crucifixion, he told them of the helper, or you may know, THE HOLY SPIRIT, who will come to them when they accept Him as Savior. This “helper” will be His own presence in them, ALWAYS, that will guide them through the trials of life.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. -John 14:27

Cast off your “hull” and trust the Savior. Crack open your shell and let Jesus have the treasure within. Put yourself in the very capable hands of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Let His (God’s) favor be upon you!