The Story of Achy the Acorn

Friday, September 14, 2018

The Story of Achy the Acorn

Achy the acorn was a pouter. He just didn’t never want to grow up, man up, or look up. He just wanted to put up. Like Little Miss Muffit who just wanted to Tough It; he didn’t want to change, but rather, remain the same.

Someone came along and asked Achy, “Hey, Achy, wouldn’t you like to come to glory; don’t you want to be all that you can be?”

Achy just folded his little arms and puffed his little cheeks into a pout and said, “Nope. Nope. Nope. I know what I am and that’s all I want to be. Me. Me. Me. I’m afraid of heights. Besides, why would I want those birds perching on me; and squirrels bunching-up my leaves making nests in me; they just want to take advantage of me and use me. I’m also afraid to get buried; and to swell up full of water; and split open; and have this tiny little sprout, so vulnerable to be crushed, coming out of my brokenness; and having to struggle with all my little might to reach up to the unreachable sky and yearn for a light and warmth so far away. I just can’t do it, I tell ya’!”

“But you’ll get help, Achy.”

“Who’s going to help me?”

“Our Maker will help you. He made you for this very reason.”

“I’m just too afraid to die. What do you want from me, man; I’m just a nut; can’t you see that?”

“Listen, Achy! This is what our Maker said about your cousin, Wheaty: ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.’ ” -John 12: 24 ESV.

“I don’t know…I just don’t know,” Achy replied.

“Let’s be realistic, Achy. Do you realize what will happen if you refuse to come to glory?”

“What will happen to me?”

“Mr. Squirrel will come along and just reach out to you with both his little hands and turn you into his lunch; and then, instead of experiencing a change of life, you’ll just be no more.”

Achy thought about all this and then took a deep breath and sighed. He tried to reason as best he could. Coming to nut’in didn’t appeal to him. So, in resignation, he uncrossed his little arms and let them hang; and his puffy cheeks returned to normal; he began to turn in his little heart to his Maker; and then he started to weep in silence and sadness. And his tears began to swell him up;[1] and suddenly he busted open his little shell; and he saw the Light for the first time in his Life; and felt the warmth of the Son; but he was still shaky with fear[2]; and then he remembered his Maker and began to cheer up a little and rest in His strength; and learned to just be what he is; and wait in faith to see what he would become.[3]

The very day the acorn broke

Was also the birthday of a mighty oak.

To the glory of Achy’s Maker, Who made the acorns and the oaks; and the water and the tears; and the Earth and the Heavens; and the blue sky and the clouds; and salvation and eternity . . .

Footnotes:

[1] Please read John 4:1-54 in which Jesus spoke of “a well of water springing up into everlasting life.” (verses 13 and 14) KJV.

[2] Please read Isaiah 8:13-14a: “Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. And he shall be for a sanctuary;”  . . .

[3] “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:29-31 KJV.

“to grant to those who mourn in Zion–to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.” -Isaiah 61:3  (ESV) Study Bible (English Standard Version).