tomatoes | bearing fruit

i received a packet of tomato seeds from my local bank back in march or april. i planted them indoors on april 21. they germinated pretty quickly. but took a long time to grow. they thrived once i transplanted them outside. for 4 months, i watered daily and even fertilized once in a while. but nothing else happened, so i almost gave up my hopes.

but a few weeks ago, i saw little green tomatoes. truly excited but still didn't keep any hope. i was pleasantly surprised when we came back from minneapolis and noticed red tomatoes growing on my tomato vines!

this morning, i was doubly surprised when i decided to sample one and it was truly sweet. our next door neighbor has the best, the sweetest fresh tomatoes i have ever tasted in my entire life! i can't say this one beats those. but mine was pretty darn good.

this whole experience made me confess my sins to God this morning. we sow spiritual seeds in people, then water, and water, and water. we expect so much growth. and we expect them to bear fruit. but nothing happens. so we give up thinking it's not our calling or duty to do any more. oh, how i've prayed for some people for years and have given up! one of those people actually has come to know Christ and kept great faith before she passed away. but i still have some more people in my heart that i need to be praying for faithfully.

i thank God this morning not only for yielding these sweet tomatoes. but more impt'ly, for teaching me a lesson through this humble tomato-growing experience.