With cranberries, it's the bounce that counts. While the quality of some fruits is judged by their firmness and color, the best cranberries are distinguished by their ability to "bounce like a golf ball."

Science Digest reports that freshly picked berries are processed by pouring them down a series of steplike boards. At each level, only those berries that bounce over an 8- to 10-inch barrier pass the quality test.

Christians face a "bounce test" too. The strength of their faith can be measured by their ability to bounce back after a fall. Although failure is painful, it offers an occasion to reaffirm our heart's devotion to Christ.

Jesus knew that the apostle Peter was about to trip over his own self-confidence and zeal by denying Him. Yet the Lord saw beyond this devastating failure to the disciple's repentance and restoration. When He assured Peter that He had prayed that his faith would not fail, He was saying, in effect, "Peter, you will bounce back after your fall."

If you've had a spiritual reversal, don't give up. Christ can restore you. You can be useful to Him again, even after a hard fall. It's the "bounce" of your faith and God's forgiveness that will enable you to go on.  — Mart De Haan