By Joy Lifechangers
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An orange is one of the most popular fruits on this planet, an incredible source of vitamin C and its juice is considered one of the most refreshing and demanded in the entire fruit juice category. The orange is grown in warm weather and is considered one of the most cultivated trees anywhere.
Today, I want to highlight the process that the orange goes through in order for us to enjoy its refreshing juice. No orange can refresh you just by being on the table or in your refrigerator; it has to be juiced before we can drink it and reap its health benefits in our bodies.
The orange is most often squeezed by hand or in the juicer in order for its juices to come flowing into our glasses. Sometimes the hands that squeeze it are small in size and at other times big in size. The hands may squeeze harshly, gently or apply just the right amount of pressure. Whichever way, some type of squeeze is necessary for its juice to come out.
One thing the orange doesn’t do is discriminate on the hand size, the colour or the level of pressure that’s applied to it. The orange, regardless of the above, will always produce it’s juice with every squeeze.
Needless to say that the orange does not complain or attack the hand or equipment that is emptying it of its juice. This is because the orange will not be the orange that it is if it had no juice. If people didn’t squeeze and taste the juice, the orange will not have the reputation that it has all over the world as a refreshing citrus juice.
The mind-boggling question you may ask is, “What are the similarities between the orange and human beings?”
Just like the orange, we humans are embodiments of grace, talents, gifts and abilities that bring refreshment to humanity. However, just like the orange, we must be squeezed for our juices to come pouring forth.
Just like the orange, grown in tropical weathers, our lives are baked in oven-like situations. Sometimes, we might have to endure rough and tough terrains just to make it through life.
Just like the orange, a variety of hands will squeeze us during our lifetime, but we must be consistent with our juice regardless of who is squeezing, how hard they’re squeezing and how long they are squeezing us. As long as we feel a squeeze, we must resolve that the refreshing juice in our insides will always come pouring out for the benefit of humanity.
Oh you better believe it that life will squeeze you. Yes, it will squeeze you hard sometimes and just like the orange, it might just be the right amount of pressure sometimes, while at other times an “ouch” might be the natural response based on how we feel. But no matter what, be sure to spill the juice.
When I was in labour for my third baby, my dilation was progressing faster than anticipated and I remember telling them about the hours I had laboured with my previous babies. Before I knew it, all the nurses started echoing history of fast deliveries and with that the speed increased drastically in the attention that they paid me. Well, my doctor had not made it in before I was ready to push, and this doctor on call came in, looked at me and told the nurses “I think she’s going to splash now.” In that moment, I could not care less about his dramatic approach as I was reacting to the pressure of the pain I was feeling and at that time ready to push the baby out whether by a splash or spit. What was sure to happen was that the baby inside of me was going to have to come out.
Isn’t that amazing that pain and pressure would lead to the pushing forth of something that will bring tears and a smile to your face once that baby is placed on your chest for your first bonding experience?
How can I cry out in pain one minute and be full of smiles and joy the next minute? It’s called life. Life will pinch, punch and kick you in the gut sometimes, but what happens next is what matters most; which is what comes out of you.
What comes out of you when you are squeezed like the orange?
In life we will go through many hand squeezes, many industrial juicing, but in the end the beauty is revealed in the tasteful and stylish way we are packaged and presented to the world and the happiness and refreshment we bring to inner being of humanity.
My purpose with this today is to keep you motivated and encouraged. To keep you determined to make every squeeze of your life count. At every pressure applied to you in whatever phase of life you might be going through, stay resolute to producing only refreshing juice to humanity.
Just like the orange, be rest assured that your juice will travel far and near, it will be poured into glasses of all races, kings, presidents, queens, princesses, governors and even ordinary people. One thing for sure, though, will be that everyone who drinks of you will be refreshed and energized for that day.
What do people get when they get you? What do people feel when they come in contact with you? What do people remember after you’ve come and gone?
Just like the orange, make their taste buds seek for you even more. Let them remember you and even note down in their journal the fact that they came by an exceptional brand of juice.
Just like the orange, be a Life Changer!!!
