Recently, I stumbled upon an article about the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein. I know “The Giving Tree” quite well. It was always a favorite of mine growing up and even as an adult. If you know the story, it’s about a tree that gives and gives, continuing to do so for a boy who becomes a man and eventually an old man. The tree gives everything it has, and the boy is happy. Sounds great, right? From the perspective of giving, it’s an awesome story. However, as we continue to evolve as humans, the story takes on a different meaning when viewed from another perspective.

First off, I don’t know how you read it, but I always interpreted it as the tree being like a mother to the child, representing Mother Nature or simply a woman. If you’ve ever listened to the audio version of the book, it also portrays the tree as a woman. In today’s light, this story is viewed as yet another tale of a man taking from a woman without giving anything in return and calling it good. So, we look at this story differently today than when it was written. My thoughts on this are not that the author intended to do harm to children. The author was writing about how important it is to give, providing an example story for children. However, today we’ve learned that language is crucial, and we need to be careful how we present things to ensure they convey balanced and safe messages that don’t confuse children.

This story reminds me of the fruit of the Spirit. If the fruit is good, it will be evident by the results. When the story was written, the author had good intentions, and the results of his work produced good fruit. It became a classic, and everyone thought it was good. Then, as the fruit was consumed, a different perspective emerged, prompting people to rethink the story and produce new interpretations. Often, people resist change and fight to maintain the status quo. The controversy surrounding this book was discussed in the New York Times in 2020. Shel Silverstein passed away in 1999, but his website still remains. If I had to guess, he would most likely not be thrilled to see people wanting to change his book. My best guess is that his family or others are working to resist efforts to alter his work.

Here’s the thing: we as humans are ever-changing. If we’re committed to change, we’ll likely see things differently as we strive to embody the qualities of Jesus. God is mysterious, and our thinking doesn’t always align with His. However, God will grant us wisdom if we study His word and follow His will.

In my journey, I’m constantly looking for the fruit on the tree. First, we must identify the tree. Is it a good tree? Was it grown in good soil or bad? When I interact with people, I’m assessing. I’m assessing whether this is a good tree or a bad tree. Once I’ve determined the nature of the tree and know it’s safe, then I can partake of its fruit. Sometimes the tree (whether it’s a person or an organization) changes. In such cases, we need to re-evaluate the tree. Do we need to prune it so its fruit once again benefits all?

Today, I am planting seeds. Tomorrow, I am tending to the tree, and next, I am enjoying its fruit. Sometimes, we need to prune the tree and give back so it can once again bear🧸good fruit!

Do You Pick The Fruit?