September 12 – Grapes

For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush. The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart. - Luke 6:43-45 NASB

Grapes grow on grape vines—all over the world in many different varities.

I love the Aesop’s Fables stories about the antics of the fox. One of those is The Fox and the Grapes. The fox was walking along through an orchard one hot late summer day when he came upon a bunch of ripe grapes that grown up into a high branch. “Just the thing to quench my thirst,” he thought. So he took a run and jumped up towards the grapes, but he just missed. So he tried again and again to jump higher, but with no success. One more time he tried to reach those tempting grapes. At last he had to give up and walked away with his nose in the air, saying, “I’m sure those are sour.” The moral of the story: It is easy to despise what you cannot get. 

My son has grapes that have grown up high into an elm tree that is near his grape arbor. The grapes way up in that tree seem to look the sweetest and ripest—yet they were beyond reach. We just had to imagine those were sour and we didn’t want them. This past year, Mike, has wisely kept the vines trimmed so that they haven’t grown up into the elm tree—and all the grapes are within reach to harvest. Are they ever tasty!

Just like Jesus words in Luke, grapes don’t grow on briar bushes; we don’t produce fruit that is unlike us. If we are thorny, like the briar bush, we won’t be giving any encouragement or sweet words to those around us. May our words, likewise the mediations of our hearts be like those grapes that Mike has grown, tasty, sweet and juicy.

Dear Lord, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 NASB)

Chicken Salad with Grapes (favorite variation for September)

1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts, cooked; leftover, poached or roasted; cooled and diced
½ cup walnuts, toasted for ~10 minutes at 350 degrees F., coarsely chopped (takes out bitterness)
½ cup diced sweet onion
1 rib celery, diced small
½ pound fresh grapes- use your favorite variety, cut them up if they are larger than bite size
1 small apple, diced small
¾ cup mayonnaise, preferably olive oil mayo
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1 Tbsp curry powder, optional
1 tsp each fresh basil and thyme, chopped fine
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

In a medium mixing bowl place the chicken, onion, celery, grapes, apple and walnuts. Mix mayonnaise, vinegar and seasonings. Gently together stir so that all contents are lightly covered. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving. Can be served on a bed of lettuce, in a lettuce wrap or on bread. Serves 4-6.

© 2012 by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.