Tha Feud Over Strawberry Jam

It's that time again for tha Pumpkin Growin', Jam Makin', Apple Pickin' Frog Holler Fall Festival. Everybody's real excited 'bout it. Even Aunt Sophie. She's won 1st place for her strawberry jam since I can remember. She's proud of it too! Until last year. That was when Myrtle May Bruberry, who thinks she has ta boil an egg for 20 minuets 'fore it's done, took tha honor away from Aunt Sophie. Now Aunt Sophie gets worked up over tha smallest thing. I remember when someone didn't put tha cover over tha butter dish. She got herself in such a state, she had ta take a nerve pill. You can imagine how she felt not winning tha jam contest!

Aunt Sophie stopped talkin' ta Myrtle May - even at church. Tha whole town was talkin' 'bout it. Some said, "The devil's got hold of her!" She even looked different. Her face was set like stone. It seemed like her heart had become cold n' hard. No one wanted ta be 'round her. Then, while readin' her Bible, Aunt Sophie felt convicted by God's Word of her envy n' ambition. The book of James made her realize that even though her jam was sweet, tha fruit of her earthly "wisdom" was bitter.

"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace."

James 3: 14-15 & 17-18Tha next Sunday, Aunt Sophie went right up ta Myrtle May n' apologized for treatin' her so bad. Then Aunt Sophie asked Myrtle May for some of her jam n' her recipe! This year Aunt Sophie has decided ta try her luck in tha pie contest with her famous blueberry pie. She doesn't care if she wins or not. She knows either way this year, she will "raise a harvest of righteousness."

Some Things Ta Think 'Bout:

1. Are ya jealous of a friend 'r someone ya don't even know?

2. Is there someone ya need ta make peace with?

Lord, help us ta not be envious of others. Help us ta uplift each other 'n ta produce tha fruit of righteousness. In tha name of Jesus, amen.

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