Last time I mentioned a cherry tree--
this time my story involves an apple tree!
When I was twelve I was invited to a sleepover birthday party, my first one in junior high, and my first one with friends from school. My best friend from church, Shelli, was friends with this same group and was invited too. We did the usual birthday things, we even went to a movie, then later that night someone decided we should go outside to walk around the neighborhood. At some point we were at the end of a street where there was a house with a big apple tree. Its branches were filled with apples, and we all followed Lori, the one with the birthday, up to the tree. While at the tree I glanced back and saw Shelli standing on the sidewalk. She hadn't followed everyone up to the tree. She wasn't picking apples without permission that didn't belong to her.
In that moment I learned a great lesson. It's okay to stand on the sidewalk. It's okay not to follow what everyone else is doing, especially when they are doing something wrong. Maybe picking an apple is not a serious offense, but having integrity (being true to what we know is right) is more important than an apple.
Shelli's example made a huge impact on me, and the lesson is one that has blessed my life ever since.
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