Imagine for a moment that you arrive home and someone who loves you has very kindly just cut up a fresh, delicious apple for your enjoyment. Now, if you detest apples, may I recommend that you substitute your favourite fruit instead of the apple? Anyway, so there it is, the perfect apple! Cool, crispy, juicy and cut into pieces, ready for your enjoyment. As you approach the apple, you think to yourself: Hmmm, this is not the way that I like apples, I think I will add a little something to this apple. You open the pantry door, peer inside and there it is, your favourite . . . mustard! Yes, that will make your apple much better. You quickly open the jar and liberally spread the mustard all over the apple. But, it’s still not quite the way you like it yet. So, you grab the tomato sauce . . . yes, this should help. Carefully squeezing the bottle, you deposit great big swirls of the sticky sauce all over the apple. This should make all the difference. Without too much thought, you lean over for the final touches, adding a generous shake or two of salt and pepper. Ahh, that should do it!!Now the apple is just the way that you like it. Reaching down, you carefully select the best looking slice and bring it to your mouth expectantly. You close your eyes in anticipation as your teeth crunch through the apple and . . . . AAARRRGGGHHH!! It’s disgusting!! And so what do you do now?? You go storming off to your loved one who gave you the apple and complain. “That apple that you gave me is disgusting!! Why would you give me such a horrible apple?? What have I ever done to deserve such a horrible thing??”
Don’t we all sometimes find ourselves doing this exact same thing in our day-to-day life? Heavenly Father blesses us with a perfectly good day . . . with opportunities, people who love us and a plan to follow. And what do we do?? We decide that we know better . . . that we have a better way! In Isaiah 55:8-9 the Saviour cautions us about this:
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Thinking that we know a better way, we can sometimes be found adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that to the perfectly good life that we have been blessed with. So, we may spread on a load of bad attitude. Perhaps add a squeeze of pride and some days, even throw in a shake or two of opposition and sin. And then, when our way doesn’t work out quite as we had planned – we turn around and blame our Father in Heaven. But really, He gave us a perfectly good apple – it was our choices that ruined everything!!
Our Father in Heaven realises that each day of life can be confusing . . . confronting . . . challenging. Hey, life can be downright difficult!! But that’s why He gave us the scriptures, commandments and the gospel. As we study the scriptures, follow the commandments and learn the doctrines and principles at church each week, we are guided in His way. He gives us the recipe to enhance our daily apples – love, forgiveness, charity, faith, giving hands, a grateful heart . . . all that we learn that the Saviour did when He walked on this earth. He also warns us of the ingredients that may ruin our daily apple - pride, sin, greed, selfishness. The world would have us believe that we should be able to do whatever we like, whenever we like . . . and yes, I guess we can add whatever we like to our daily apple. But with each choice comes a consequence and if we choose to follow the world’s tastes, we shouldn’t be surprised if things become a whole lot worldly.
I know that since joining this church and on a daily basis choosing to follow the Saviour’s plan for my life, I have been happier than at any other time in my life. Life has become less complicated as I have eliminated many destructive ingredients. I am more aware of the many blessings which I receive and find it easier to truly appreciate and celebrate them . . . and to add even more good to my life each day!! Of course, life isn’t without its challenges now, but the peace that comes with following the Saviour makes everything so much more manageable. If you are struggling with the complications of worldly choices, I testify to you that the Saviour Jesus Christ is the source of all good things!
So go ahead, make the best of your daily apple by following His teachings.
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