There is something special about a homegrown tomato. This week I enjoyed a BLT sandwich with slices of a homegrown tomato that a friend shared with me, and my oh, my, was it delicious.
We can buy tomatoes at the grocery store year-round, but they rarely compare to one picked fresh from the garden. Homegrown tomatoes are bursting with flavor and carry the sweetness of a season's worth of care. Yes, a homegrown tomato reminds us that some things simply cannot be rushed.
A tomato plant requires good soil, regular watering, sunshine, and patience. For weeks, there has been little to show for the effort. Yet beneath the surface, growth is taking place. Roots are spreading. Stems are strengthening. Life is developing.
Faith often grows the same way.
Often, we want quick results, immediate answers, and visible progress. Yet, God frequently works in slow, hidden ways. As we pray, worship, serve, explore Scripture, and find beloved community with each other, God nurtures our hearts day by day. We may not notice much change at first, but over time, the fruit of the Spirit begins to appear. We notice God growing love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our lives.
Then one day, much like biting into a perfectly ripe tomato, we discover that the patient work was worth it. What God has been growing within us is beautiful, nourishing, and good.
As we enjoy the fruits of summer, take a moment to thank God for the ways God is cultivating your life and growing your faith. Trust the process. Keep tending the garden of your soul. The harvest is coming.
"Let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
Jesus loves you, Union Family, and I do too.