Canning Time

Bible Reading: Luke 6:43-45

Abby used a large spoon to carefully lift a peach from the hot water Mom had poured over the fruit. After gently peeling it, she passed it to her mother. Mom cut the peach in half, broke it apart, and removed the pit. “Too bad peaches don’t grow around here all year long,” said Abby with a sigh. “Then we wouldn’t have to can any. It’s a lot of work.” She lifted out another peach. “How come we do so much canning? I don’t think any of my friends do it.”

“Maybe not,” said Mom, “but home-canned peaches taste so good—better than store-bought ones. And even better than the fresh ones you can buy when they’re not in season.”

“That’s true,” said Abby. “They are yummy!”

“Just thinking about how much we’ll enjoy eating these this winter makes this job more pleasant,” said Mom. “We’ll have enough peaches stored up to last till after the cold weather is gone.”

“Thinking of that does help—a little,” said Abby. She slid the skin from a peach. “A very little!” she added with a grin.

“Did you know that Jesus talked about storing things?” asked Mom.

Abby giggled. “Oh, Mom! Jesus didn’t do any canning.”

“I’m sure He didn’t,” Mom replied with a smile. “He was talking about storing up things in our hearts, not in cans.”

“In our hearts?” asked Abby. “Like Bible verses maybe?”

“Yes, but He also talked about the thoughts and feelings we store up,” Mom replied. “Jesus said you can tell what a person has in his heart by the way he talks. Good thoughts and feelings about God and about people will be evident from the kind words we speak. It’s as though our mouths overflow with whatever we’ve stored in our hearts and minds.”

Abby reached over to pick up a shriveled peach and showed it to her mother. “I guess storing up bad thoughts would be like canning bad peaches,” she said. “Yuck! Who would want to eat those? Bad peaches should be thrown out—and bad thoughts should too.”

“You’re absolutely right,” said Mom. “Let’s get rid of them as fast as we can and trust Jesus to fill our hearts and minds with His love.” • Carolyn E. Yost

How About You?

What do people hear from the storehouse of your heart? Do your words point to a heart that’s been changed by Jesus and filled with His love for others? If you know Jesus as your Savior, He’s given you His goodness and love so you can point others to Him. Trust Him to help you store up loving thoughts and feelings in your heart and mind so you can show others His goodness through your words.

Today’s Key Verse:
Luke 6:45 A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. (CSB)

Today’s Key Thought:

Store up good thoughts