Have you ever sank your pearly whites into a green persimmon?
If you’re reading this and haven’t had the experience, I’d recommend it. Just don’t read any further until you’ve tried it. (Who am I kidding? Nobody’s reading this.)
There isn’t a cure to getting the taste out of your mouth. At least, not that I know of…
You don’t even have to let the green, pre-ripened fruit roll across your tongue. You can taste it as soon as your teeth break through its thin covering. It will make you run to the house in search of something to eliminate the taste from your mouth.
My brother and I were at a family reunion in our beloved Southern Missouri. We were hanging out with a certain cousin who had never heard of a persimmon. Nor had he ever tasted one. We expounded in great detail what an exquisite and delectable treat they were. At this point in time, however, the persimmons were the color of a maple leaf in early spring. Bright green. Our cousin took a bite out of one. He was remarkably committed to this bite. This was not a nibble. This bite took out half of the persimmon. This little green fruit didn’t stand a chance. And neither did our cousin. He instantly spat and sputtered, but the taste was intact. The bitterness was already attacking the tender taste buds of our precious cousin. Spitting it out didn’t help. He could have outrun race car #24 at Talladega. He kicked up a trail of dust en route to the house. My brother and I just laughed. Bless our hearts.
You can eat or drink something, but the taste has made such an impact on your tongue, it takes hours before it goes away. I haven’t bitten into a green persimmon since childhood. Yet it packs such a whollop, years later I can still remember it.
Have you ever encountered a human being who had the personality and charm of a green persimmon?
(I might have been that person a time or two. Sorry about that.)
There’s just something about a bitter taste. Literally and figuratively.
It takes awhile to dwindle away. Even then, it’s easily remembered.
Those green persimmons, they are just a pleasure to have around, aren’t they?
Conversations, without mentioning the wrong that was done, simply don’t exist.
Somehow, their past hurt applies to the current topic of how to bale hay more efficiently…
There are those who choose to hang on to past hurts, which results in bitterness.
Then there are those who choose to release past hurts. Was it bad? Yes.
But why let it hang on and ruin relationships and friendships? Let it go. Forgive.
The fruit that a forgiving person bears is sweet and pungent. You can’t help but want to be around them.
In fact, you’re drawn to them.
The bitter person causes you to have more anxiety and you will find yourself rummaging through your thoughts or past experiences trying to find how you can better relate to them.
And you might wind up being bitter over something miniscule.
Worse than being around a bitter person, is being that bitter person.
Is it hard to forgive? Yes.
Do the feelings of hurt and anger creep up and try to implant themselves in your thought process again? Yes.
But one thing I crave to be is a good forgiver.
When feelings and memories arise, I pray. I give those things to Someone Who is more Divinely equipped to deal with them.
And He’s really good at what He does.
I want to always remember the joy and peace that accompanies forgiveness. So that when hurt arrives with its eager companions anger and resentment, I can offer forgiveness that heals the hurt and eradicates its tag-alongs.
Meanwhile, forgiveness is not synonymous with staying with an abusive person. There are lines to be drawn at some point. But whether you’re around the source of the hurt or not, forgiving them releases you from further pain. You will be free to live and laugh and enjoy the days ahead.
Don’t “bite into the bitter fruit” and be burdened by the awful taste it leaves behind.
If you’re having trouble, remember that you have been forgiven of so much.
You will never regret choosing to forgive.
to those affected by green persimmons, (myself included)
– Caleb
caneymountainblog.com 