I have had an epiphany that I have shared with others and now will share with you.
I was once told a story in high school that I did not know would have such a profound inpact on me at the time. The story was about a missionary and a pineapple garden that he planted.
Well, the story goes a little something like this: The missionary really wanted to have some pineapples where he was living. So, he had young pineapple plants brought in and he asked the natives to help him plant them. Well, the natives agreed.
Now the pineapple plants took several years to grow and produce ripe, eatable pineapples. Well, the missionary knew this and was eagerly looking forward to the year when his pineapples would be ripe and he could eat them. So the day finally comes when the missionary realizes that his pineapples are going to be ripe. But when he goes to pick and eat them - they are gone!
Long story short, the natives were stealing his pineapples. Well, the missionary was infuriated because those were HIS pineapples. Although he had asked the natives to help him plant them - they had no right to eat them when he got none.
Well, the missionary decided that he was not going to let the natives steal his pineapples anymore. So he put up a fence. When that failed, he got a terrible guard dog that kept the natives away from him all of the time. When he realized that wouldn't work, he stopped offering them medical services as long as they stole his pineapples.
When he realized that the natives were getting very sick, he got angry because his pineapples kept disappearing. Thus, after offering the medical services again, the missionary had the pineapple plants ripped out and new ones planted on his own.
After the years passed and the pineapples were ripe, the missionary was sure he was going to get his pineapples. Well, once they were ready to be eaten - again the pineapples were gone. The missionary knew that the natives were stealing the pineapples again. Soon, the missionary began to get depressed realizing that he could not keep the natives from stealing his pineapples whatever he did.
Then one day, the missionary was talking to the natives about how they needed to love one another. At that point, a native came up to the missionary and asked, "If we are to love each other, then how come you don't love us?"
After being hit with this blow, the missionary went home and thought. He thought about the guard dog that chased the natives away, he thought about the medical services that he withdrew even though the natives so desperately needed them, but most of all he thought about his stolen pineappples.
Finally, the missionary realized something. He came to see that no matter how hard he tried - the pineapples were not going to be his. No matter what he did, he was not going to get the natives to leave his pineapples to him. He felt angry, until he though about what the native had asked him. Then, it occured to him what he had to do.
So one night, the missionary went into the pineapple field and kneeled down. Then, the missionary prayed, "Lord, I want you to have this pineapple field. If it is your will for me to have some of your pineapples, then I will gladly enjoy them. But, Lord, if it is not your will for me to have any of these pineapples, then that is okay with me. These are your pineapples, Lord, not mine."
After that, the missionary got up and went home. Later, the natives noticed a change in the missionary. He stopped making efforts to get the pineapples. Instead, he was showing love toward the natives instead of anger. Then, one native came up to the missionary and asked, "How come you don't get angry when your pineapples are taken anymore?"
The missionary replied, "They are not my pineapples. They are God's pineapples."
The native was shocked, as were the other natives who heard the missionary say this. After this, a native came to the missionary with a pineapple and offered to share one of "God's pineapples" with the missionary.
Thus, in the end the natives and missionary were able to share the pineapples that had been given over to God as a sacrifice. And it was only once the missionary let the pineapples go, that everyone was able to see the work of God's love in both missionary and natives lives.
Although, there are times when we give our pineapple fields to God, and we do not get the pineapples. While this seems disappointing, it must be remembered that not everyone needs pineapples. If you are in a pineapple field, God may know that you need peaches instead. Therefore, He may take away the pineapples that you spent time with - but He will give you peaches beyond your wildest dreams. So, just remember that it is not your pineapple field - and that the pineapples need to belong to God. Only when the pineapples are in the right hands can they be given to those who should have them!
-RK
PS. Thank you so much Mr. Nandor! You may never know - but that story has helped to change my life.
I was once told a story in high school that I did not know would have such a profound inpact on me at the time. The story was about a missionary and a pineapple garden that he planted.
Well, the story goes a little something like this: The missionary really wanted to have some pineapples where he was living. So, he had young pineapple plants brought in and he asked the natives to help him plant them. Well, the natives agreed.
Now the pineapple plants took several years to grow and produce ripe, eatable pineapples. Well, the missionary knew this and was eagerly looking forward to the year when his pineapples would be ripe and he could eat them. So the day finally comes when the missionary realizes that his pineapples are going to be ripe. But when he goes to pick and eat them - they are gone!
Long story short, the natives were stealing his pineapples. Well, the missionary was infuriated because those were HIS pineapples. Although he had asked the natives to help him plant them - they had no right to eat them when he got none.
Well, the missionary decided that he was not going to let the natives steal his pineapples anymore. So he put up a fence. When that failed, he got a terrible guard dog that kept the natives away from him all of the time. When he realized that wouldn't work, he stopped offering them medical services as long as they stole his pineapples.
When he realized that the natives were getting very sick, he got angry because his pineapples kept disappearing. Thus, after offering the medical services again, the missionary had the pineapple plants ripped out and new ones planted on his own.
After the years passed and the pineapples were ripe, the missionary was sure he was going to get his pineapples. Well, once they were ready to be eaten - again the pineapples were gone. The missionary knew that the natives were stealing the pineapples again. Soon, the missionary began to get depressed realizing that he could not keep the natives from stealing his pineapples whatever he did.
Then one day, the missionary was talking to the natives about how they needed to love one another. At that point, a native came up to the missionary and asked, "If we are to love each other, then how come you don't love us?"
After being hit with this blow, the missionary went home and thought. He thought about the guard dog that chased the natives away, he thought about the medical services that he withdrew even though the natives so desperately needed them, but most of all he thought about his stolen pineappples.
Finally, the missionary realized something. He came to see that no matter how hard he tried - the pineapples were not going to be his. No matter what he did, he was not going to get the natives to leave his pineapples to him. He felt angry, until he though about what the native had asked him. Then, it occured to him what he had to do.
So one night, the missionary went into the pineapple field and kneeled down. Then, the missionary prayed, "Lord, I want you to have this pineapple field. If it is your will for me to have some of your pineapples, then I will gladly enjoy them. But, Lord, if it is not your will for me to have any of these pineapples, then that is okay with me. These are your pineapples, Lord, not mine."
After that, the missionary got up and went home. Later, the natives noticed a change in the missionary. He stopped making efforts to get the pineapples. Instead, he was showing love toward the natives instead of anger. Then, one native came up to the missionary and asked, "How come you don't get angry when your pineapples are taken anymore?"
The missionary replied, "They are not my pineapples. They are God's pineapples."
The native was shocked, as were the other natives who heard the missionary say this. After this, a native came to the missionary with a pineapple and offered to share one of "God's pineapples" with the missionary.
Thus, in the end the natives and missionary were able to share the pineapples that had been given over to God as a sacrifice. And it was only once the missionary let the pineapples go, that everyone was able to see the work of God's love in both missionary and natives lives.
Although, there are times when we give our pineapple fields to God, and we do not get the pineapples. While this seems disappointing, it must be remembered that not everyone needs pineapples. If you are in a pineapple field, God may know that you need peaches instead. Therefore, He may take away the pineapples that you spent time with - but He will give you peaches beyond your wildest dreams. So, just remember that it is not your pineapple field - and that the pineapples need to belong to God. Only when the pineapples are in the right hands can they be given to those who should have them!
-RK
PS. Thank you so much Mr. Nandor! You may never know - but that story has helped to change my life.
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