The Little Apple Tree’s Second Chance
In a bright, sunny orchard, there was a little apple tree. Every year, the owner of the orchard looked for apples on its branches, but there were none. The tree’s leaves were pale, and its branches were weak.
“For three years, this tree hasn’t grown a single apple,” the owner said. “It’s just wasting space. I should cut it down.”
But the gardener cared for the little tree. “Please give it one more chance,” he asked. “I’ll dig around its roots, give it good food, and water it every day. Maybe it needs to change to grow. If it still doesn’t bear fruit, then you can cut it down.”
The owner agreed, and the gardener got to work. He loosened the hard soil around the tree’s roots, gave it rich fertilizer, and watered it daily. As he cared for the tree, he whispered, “You need to let go of the bad to grow good fruit. Leave behind the old ways and start new.”
The little tree listened. It dropped its dry, sickly leaves and let its roots reach deeper into the fresh soil. It soaked up the water and nutrients, letting go of its old, weak branches.
Soon, bright green leaves appeared, and small blossoms followed. One morning, the gardener saw tiny apples growing! The tree stood tall and strong, its branches heavy with fruit.
When the owner saw the apples, he was amazed. “I’m glad we gave it another chance!” he said, picking a sweet, juicy apple.
The gardener smiled and patted the tree. “You did well, little tree. You let go of the old and grew something good.”
And from then on, the apple tree remembered that to grow good fruit, it needed to change and grow better each day.A children’s story about the need to repent along with God’s mercy and patience, based on Luke 13:1-9.
