BEAUTYBERRY BUSH!!!

 ‘Purple Beautyberry Bush’ photo by Derek Ramsey CC BY-SA 2.5.         

Last spring, my wife bought a beautyberry bush.  (See photo above.)  We can see it out our dining room window!  The berries are ‘jewel like’ and grow in clusters all over the branches.
They look delicious, but unfortunately, although they are edible, they have an astringent taste. (They will make your mouth pucker).   But the birds and small animals love them.           
If you insist on eating them, apparently you can use them to make a jam or jelly. How about this? Their leaves are a natural mosquito repellent. All you have to do is grab a handful of leaves, crush them and rub them on your skin or clothing!  In the early 20^th Century, farmers would crush them and place them under the harnesses of horses and mules to repel mosquitoes and other biting bugs.  I bet they appreciated that!

Not only is the beautyberry bush interesting to look at with its clusters of vibrant colored berries, and a natural bug repellant, but it also has a ‘treasure trove’ of health benefits!
Its leaves, roots and branches contain antibacterial, antiviral, astringent, antifungal, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes!  They have been used in traditional medicine for generations to treat malaria, rheumatism, dizziness, stomachaches and dysentery!!!

When I first looked at this bush, I saw the clusters of berries and it reminded me of the scriptures regarding unity.  The berries are not separated from each other, but only grow as clusters, a great example of unity. God loves unity and He loves you!  People ask, ‘Why am I here, why was I born’?  The truth is, we are here because God wanted company!  Sin separated man from God, so our number one purpose now is to be reunited, or unified with Him!  Unity is ‘the state of being joined together as a single complete whole.’  

2 Corinthians 5:19 tells us that God is ‘reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them.’  This is good news!

He wants us to be ‘one’ with Him!!!  Like I said, He loves unity!  Unity with Him and with each other.  It’s a God thing!!!  Psalm 133:1-3 tells us just how great unity is!  ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.  (Precious oil on someone’s head symbolized holiness, consecration and divine favor).  It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. (Heavy dew is refreshing. It gives life giving renewal and substance in a dry land).  There the Lord bestows His blessing, even life forevermore.’  (Unity creates the spiritual environment where God commands His ultimate blessing:  life forevermore)!  Psalm 133:1-3.

I was a youth pastor for five years.  The word of God would be preached in the sanctuary as seed dispersed over the congregation, but it was in the small groups like my youth group where these seeds would be nurtured.  I remember thinking that our group was real church! Those that I have kept in contact with are still serving the Lord!

Let the Beautyberry bush inspire you to seek the blessings of unity!  

AND BE BLESSED!