Big, Juicy Grapes

...continued

Susanna liked being outside, too. “It was really fun the day we all sat in the water on the side of Lake Galilee. It was such a hot day, but sitting right down in the cool water was so much fun.”

“I remember that,” said Andrew. “There was a vineyard right beside the lake. People were working on the grapevines. They were tying them to posts and even cutting some of the vine branches off and throwing them away.”

“Jesus talked about that. Do you remember, Andrew? If the workers in the vineyard cut off a branch, then that branch will die. In order to live, it has to be connected to the grapevine.”

“The vine gets food and water from the earth,” said Andrew. “Jesus talked about how the vine sends that food and water to every little branch. The leaves – even the tiny little branches – soak up the warm sunshine. Then the whole grapevine uses the food and water and sunshine to make grapes. Big juicy grapes! Grapes are my favourite.”

“‘God is like a big, strong grapevine.’ Remember when Jesus talked about that, Andrew? The branches that people cut off and throw away – those branches become dry and useless. They can’t make any grapes at all.”

“God wants you and me and everyone else to be part of the grapevine,” said Andrew. He spread his arms out wide and started to giggle. “Does Jesus want me to grow grapes on the end of my fingers? That would be really weird.”

Susanna laughed, too. “I think Jesus meant that when we live God’s way – when we are kind and fair to other people, and when we try to take good care of God’s earth – then we are like the healthy branches. Then we are growing good fruit. Big, juicy grapes. Grapes are my favourite, too.”

“I just thought of something.” Andrew stopped laughing. “If you and I are like the branches, and God is like the vine, does that mean that God can’t grow anything without us?”

“I guess that’s right.” Susanna stopped laughing, too. “We need God and God needs us. That’s awesome!”