A Fable

By Me.

Once, there was a Branch. It didn't realize it, but the tree that it lived on was almost dead. It was withered and shriveled, and would never bear any fruit.
The Good Gardener saw this, and decided to save the Branch from its fate. He cut the Branch from its old home and grafted it onto a strong, healthy Tree, so that the Branch might have another chance.
'My, a strong tree,' thought the Branch, 'and so tall and thick and full of leaves.' The Branch decided that this new Tree was a good place to be, and was content.
Every day the Good Gardener came and watered the tree, and often spoke to it. He told it of many things, of storms and of droughts, of fires and earthquakes. The Branch learned much from the Gardener, and felt that he was prepared for whatever might happen to him.
One day, there was a storm. Lightning illuminated the sky, and thundered vibrated all the limbs of the Tree. The rain poured in huge, heavy drops. The Branch became afraid.
Suddenly, he heard the Gardener's voice. 'Do not be afraid,' he was saying, 'for I have grafted you onto a good, strong Tree. You will be safe here. The Storm will not harm you.'
The Branch was calmed, and it knew that the Gardener would let no hurt come to him. However, after the storm had passed, the Branch found that many of its leaves had been blown away. 'My,' thought the Branch, 'the Gardener never mentioned this. Why did he not tell me? It is very strange;' and the Branch began to doubt.
Soon, it was Summer, and the Tree began to bear its fruit. The Branch look round one day, and thought, 'My, what grand fruit all these Branches are bearing;' but when he look at himself, he had none. 'Why is this?' he wondered, feeling sad. Then he realized that these branches had grown on the Tree, while he had been grafted on by the Gardener. 'My,' he thought, 'that foolish Gardener! Why did he not leave me where I was? It was better there.' If he had thought about it, the Branch would have realized the his old home was bleak and barren, and the Gardener was very wise indeed. However, he could only think about how the other Branches had fruit, and he did not. 'This Tree is no good to me,' he thought, and jumped from the tree.
It hurt when he hit the ground, but he obstinately kept to his choice. 'After all,' he thought, 'I'm no worse off down here than I was up there; and I will bear fruit myself.'
So for many days, he tried and tried to bear fruit, and always it was just out of his reach. 'My,' he thought, 'fruit is hard to produce; but if I try a little bit harder, then I will be sure to accomplish what I want.' So he tried again for many days to bear fruit, and always it was just out of his reach.
One day, a storm came up, and the Branch began to fear. 'I shall surely be washed away,' he thought. The wind blew hard, swirling leaves about all over, and thunder rumbled all around him. Then, the rain came.
It was much more frightening to be on the ground during a rain than in a Tree, where a Branch ought to be. As the water fell from the sky, it surrounded the Branch, who was by now all in a panic. 'What am I to do?' he thought frantically. Then he heard something.
'Do not be afraid,' said a voice, 'for you are a good, strong Tree that I have planted. The Storm will not harm you.'
The Branch realized the Gardener was speaking to the Tree, and ignoring him! 'That stupid Gardener!' he thought, 'can he not see me lying here, about to be washed away in the flood?' but the Gardener did not come to him.
The Branch thought that if he called for help, the Gardener would come; but he no longer trusted the Gardener, and didn't want his help.
Soon, the water rose high enough to lift the Branch up, and the Branch began to float away. 'What shall I do?' he cried, terrified out of his wits. He would have to go where the Storm took him, for it was too strong for him to overcome.
As he began to flow faster and faster, he began to fear that he would never see the Tree or the Gardener again; but why would he want to? He no longer wanted them; but then he realized that he had nothing without them. It wasn't really any better on the ground than in the Tree. It was much worse. 'Help!' he finally cried out. 'I am all set to be washed away and drowned! Help!'
In a moment the Gardener was there, lifting him out of the flood, and carrying him gently back to the Tree. 'My dear Branch,' he said, 'what were you thinking? You had everything you would ever need in the Tree, and yet you jump out and are nearly lost in the flood.'
'I had no fruit,' said the Branch. 'I had been grafted onto the Tree, and didn't belong.'
'You do not understand,' said the Gardener. 'I grafted all of the Branches onto that Tree. They are of all different kinds, and they all bear different fruit in their seasons. You will bear fruit, too, if you are patient, and the fruit you bear will be just as great and grand as theirs is.'
'What if it isn't?' asked the Branch.
'Any fruit that a Branch bears is great and grand in my sight,' said the Gardener.
After the Storm passed, the Gardener grafted the Branch back onto the Tree.
'Why did you not come to save me from the flood?' asked the Branch.
'Because you did not ask,' said the Gardener. 'You decided to leave the Tree. I wasn't going to force you to come back until I knew you wanted to.'
Back on the Tree, the Branch grew full and strong, and bore fruit in his season, and was able to withstand any Storm that challenged him. 'My,' said the Branch one day, 'what a fortunate Branch I am, to be put in this Tree;' for he didn't realize that any Branch would be put on the Tree who asked.

I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

John 15:5