Dirty Hands, Hopeful Heart

A Pot of Hope

Gardening by the Spirit

It’s tomato-planting time here in Southern California. Last year, my Caspian Pink plant produced the most flavorful, happy-party-in-my-mouth tomato I’ve ever eaten.

Note I wrote “tomato,” not “tomatoes.” Over the the entire season, the plant yielded one amazing tomato.

This year I was faced with a gardener’s dilemma: Do I try Caspian Pink one more time, hoping for a better yield? Will I be content if my efforts provide only one tomato? Or no tomatoes? Or do I plant a different variety? 

I planted a different variety. Caspian Pink tasted wonderful, but didn’t produce much fruit. Another tomato might taste even better and provide plenty of fruit–enough to share with friends and family.

My prayer today is that the Spirit within me will produce a consistent crop of fruits, and that I will share His abundance.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
24 Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 (NASB)

Comments

  1. Hello 🙂

    I just wanted to stop by and thank you for congratulating me on the She Reads blog after the scholarship contest! So nice of you!

    Great post! May the Spirit produce a good crop in my life, too! Awesome thoughts! Love those verses – some of my favorites!

    Have fun with your tomatoes this year! Yum!

    Thanks again! Have a wonderful week!

    Blessings,
    Katie 🙂

  2. Katie,
    What a sweet gesture! Today is challenging me. You just brought a big, big smile to my face.

    Blessings back to you!
    Sheila

  3. Oh, I hope you get a little more yield this year!!

  4. Thanks, Ann! Last year's experience was a lesson in humility for me. I've never had trouble growing tomatoes before.

    But then, summer didn't really show up, either, last year.