My dad and my Pappy planted an orchard. It was wonderful. There were pecan trees, damson plum trees, a pear tree…and tart red cherry trees. It felt like treasure to me.

In May the cherries would begin to ripen. They looked like beautiful red rubies hanging on the branches. After school, we would pick cherries until supper time. Our buckets would be filled with the red treasure.

I think those cherry pies our Mom and Mama Kate made were out of this world delicious. If we made a pie at the river, Mama would have vanilla ice cream on top. The hot pie would melt that ice cream…Oh…a dream come true.

But there would always be trouble at cherry picking time. It seems that birds like ripe red cherries too. My grandmother would hang aluminum pie plates in the trees, tin foil, or ribbons. Anything that would flutter or reflect light. She was in a war with the birds every spring.

Sometimes the birds would become accustomed to her tricks. They would get into the trees and begin to feast. She would run out of the house hollering and waving her apron. She always wore a work dress and apron so this was quite a comical sight. I never saw her run at any other time.

The birds would retreat. Mama Kate would find another decoy and try again. The battle would rage until the cherry harvest was over.

I think of the gifts Abba God sends our way…Whether it is cherries or flowers or friends or babies. The gifts are wonderful blessings and we see them as just that. We do have an adversary however, who loves to take our God gifts or destroy our God gifts or deface our God gifts. Like those cherry loving birds this adversary can wreak havoc before we realize it.

I don’t spend much time thinking about this adversary. I’d much prefer to always keep my eyes on Jesus. The Word tells us that Satan is like a roaring lion seeking to devour so I do think it is prudent to protect what Abba gives us…The love of family and friends..salvation…ministry…red cherries…

I have one cherry tree. Baxter bought it for me years ago. This year I have beaten the birds and have cherries for pies. This Memorial Day, we will be having cherry pie with ice cream…we will celebrate Jesus’ complete victory over all and give thanks for all His marvelous gifts.