THE GRAPE HARVEST

                                    Once upon a time, there was a landlord who planted grapevines. The grapevines produced a rich and plentiful harvest. So, he hired some harvesters to harvest his vineyard. Among them, there was an old man and a young man. The old man was unmarried and had no family. While the young man was married and had two children. They both harvested the vineyard alongside each other. The old man noticed the young man throwing the harvested grapes into a small bag beside him. 

        " That's stealing you know, " said the old man.

       " It's called 'helping yourselves' to me, " replied the young man. 

         " I don't see why you should steal the grapes. There is a plentiful harvest here! The landlord will surely spare us some," said the old man.

         "Well, I don't think so. The landlord looks grumpy and cruel to me. I even doubt if he will give us our proper wages. Moreover, you have nobody to take home anything. So, it's easy for you to say this. But, I have two children who will be longing to see what I bring home after work," said the young man. 

                 The old man decided not to retort and kept quiet. At the end of the day, when the harvesting was done, the landlord called forth all the harvesters to give them their wages. As each man went forward to receive his wages, the young man noticed that the landlord asked them to hold out their bags and filled them with the freshly harvested grapes. The young man's heart began to sink. His bag was already half full of grapes. If he was discovered stealing, he will lose not only his wages but he cannot work in any other field ever again. 

           As he moved along the line shaking in his boots with fear. The old man who was right in front of him stepped forward to receive his wages. The young man observed that the landlord did not fill his bag full as he did for others. But pressed a little more money than his wages into his hand and said, "You need this more than the grapes. Use it until you are hired again." The old man thanked him and moved aside to let the young man forward. 

            The landlord counted the young man's wages and handed them to him. Then he asked the young man to hold out his bag. The young man refused and said that he didn't want the grapes.        

            But the landlord insisted saying, " You need them. There are young children at home." And he pulled his bag open. As he did so he found that there were grapes in it already. The landlord realised what had happened. He did not say a word but simply filled the bag full and said to the young man,

            "I see that you are in need. You can harvest in my fields throughout this season. And, I will make sure that you have no lack." 

             The young man fell to his knees and cried, "Sir, I am terribly sorry!"

             The landlord replied, "I understand your situation. What you did was wrong. But, I don't blame you alone for it. Some terrible landlords don't pay properly and never share their harvest with the labourers but that is not so in my fields. There is no need to steal here, all you need to do is only ask."

            Having said this, he sent the young man away promising to hire him throughout the harvest season. The old man stood watching all this. And when the young man turned to leave he accompanied him to the gate.

           "I don't like to say, 'I told you so' but I do like to say, 'Don't judge a book by its cover'. The landlord does look cruel and grumpy. But, he is kind at heart. He keeps a stern face to get his work done. But, then he richly supplies his labourers. I have been working for him for a long time and have always been paid well. So, don't ever worry about your needs and make wrong choices. But, just find someone who supplies those needs. And, yes I don't have a family to take home anything but I do have people in my life who care for me like this landlord. And, I thank God for them," said the old man and left home. 

                    The young man stood holding a bag full of grapes in one hand and his money in the other pondering over what had happened just then and what the old man had said. He realised that all through his life, he had run to meet his needs instead of finding the one who supplies. He left home that day not only with a heavy bag but also with a heavy heart that was full of joy. He was not only forgiven but was provided and was promised full provision for times to come.

Moral of the story: Well, I am not going to give you a moral of my own. This simple story holds many things- forgiveness, mercy, provision, repentance, love and care. I desire that you take a bag full of what you need the most. To me, the landlord is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. I am often in the place of the young man, in need of peace, joy, grace, stability, wisdom and much more. And I have found that my landlord not only forgives me for my shortcomings but richly supplies all my needs and promises me more. Our God shall supply all our needs. And at many a times money is not all that we need.