Yesterday, Barbara and I shared on Our Hiding Place about the fruit of the spirit. We talked about the fruit bearing benefits of “abiding” from John 15. On our show, I shared an experience I had last fall that God used to shake me up. Today I’m sharing with you.
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On this particular night, I delivered a meal to a family in need. As I sat and talked with this dad, I kept glancing at his two elementary aged kids. They stood on a chair over the kitchen sink. The girl was peeling a cucumber. Afterward, she sliced it and shared it with her younger brother. They ate it along with a couple cherry tomatoes, savoring each bite as if it was candy.
When the mom(a friend of mine) got home, I complimented her for her vegetable eating kids.
She said, “We grow our own tomatoes. My kids love picking the ripe ones every morning.”
What? It’s a month past frost, I thought. My tomatoes are ruined. Frozen first, now mush.
“Are you serious? How?”
She walked me out into her garage and turned on the light. I was stunned. These tomatoes hung upside down and ripened on the vine. Without roots. Without soil. Without water. Without sunlight. For over a month, they hung in the dark and grew anyway. How?
Now if this is normal gardening practice for you, please bear with me. I’d never heard of such a thing. And I love my garden.
Overwhelmed by the beauty, I saw God’s Word come to life.
I remembered John 15.
“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful,” vs. 2,3.
“Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself, it must remain in the vine,” vs. 5
Sometimes in life, we feel like we are dying. We are living in a dark season with no hope. No growth. No bright days. We feel forgotten.
Not true.
In the darkness, Your Master Gardener watches over you. Your tears are collected. Your cries heard. Your life carefully monitored day after day. God Almighty feeds you from His vine.
Yes, even in that dark place, fruit ripen.
Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control fill your life. (Gal. 5:22-23)
The Gardener then uses your fruit to nourish many. Those who are hungry, come and eat and are satisfied.
With a thankful heart, you realize you weren’t forgotten after all. Your life really mattered. That dark season saved your life. Had you been left out in the cold, you would’ve never survived. Broken, you realize the Vine died for you. The Vine willing give up its life, so you could bear fruit. And for the first time ever, you believe the Gardener loved you beyond measure.
I love what you wrote here! Last night I saw one of those Topsy Turvy commercials and had a devo idea from seeing the fruit grow upside down. God is so good to take care of us.
Blessings-
Shonda
Shonda, I've seen that commercial too. Isn't there a pot and soil in that one? Can't remember, but I do remember thinking about these tomatoes again when I saw the ad.
God does take care of us!
Amen, amen dear sis. I love you.
Such great thoughts, but now I want to know how to grow tomatoes like that. 🙂
Tiffany,
If I can add to this story that when the fruit drops down, it can be used by others to enjoy. If we are the vine, when we hang upside down the fruit falls away from us to be enjoyed by others while our roots remain firmly rooted in heaven where they can be nourished by Gods Word and His Love.
If you get a chance, stop by and participate in some of my giveaways, most of them end this weekend! I'd love to have you join!
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
Beautiful post and it reminds me of a hymn we sing that says, "the desert blooms as paradise for God is with his people there." You don't often think of a desert as paradise, but with God it can be. Thanks for the thought provoking post.
Jan,
My friend told me she cut them off and brought them in before the first frost. So they were outdoors in pots prior to this. They must have got something good and lasting from their time outside with the water, soil and sun. 🙂
Kat, love your added thoughts about our roots in heaven.
Darcie, I'm not sure I've heard that hymn. Sounds great though.
And Denise, love you sis.
TIffany, I have never heard of this practice before and I have planted quite a few tomatoes in my day! I'll have to remember to try it this fall.
I loved the way your story beautifully brought scripture to life. What an awesome message and a powerful visual. He is the source of all life!
Oh Tiff–I loved this! 🙂
Tiffany that post is so "HELPFUL AND BEAUTIFUL"!!! Thanks for sharing with us I'm saving this one for when I feel sad or down!!!
Love you 🙂
Great post Tiffany. Wow great fruit too. Love how the Lord shows you many things! All this from delivering a pizza to help someone. Go girl! Praying over the fruit challenge. B
Hi Tiffany,
Great example of what God can do! I recently read that Every one of our prayers is filed in the memory of God, not one goes unheard.
You've got me thinking about tomatoes now! The Lord is good.
MTJ
Love this post. I am part of a prayer team for an upcoming retreat, and we have all received the same word–"be still and wait; I'm come when it's time." There is fruit growing in the "darkness" of this time of silence. I love that.
Yes, yes. You're also helping me with my disappointment at this year's incipient failure of my first attempt at tomato-growing. 🙂
Thanks for posting and happy I found your blog:) Check out my giveaway!
Such great thoughts, but now I want to know how to grow tomatoes like that.
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I just found your blog through the Woman Inspired email. I lived in CO for 9 years! I can also relate to your walk. Glad I have found you! I loved this p[ost, and even forwarded it to a friend. Blessings!!