Saturday, May 1, 2010

Spiritual Sunday 2010 #6 - FRUIT TREE FAITH







I actually posted this on Thursday, April 29th, but wanted to re-post it here for Spiritual Sunday. Hope it blesses someone and strengthens your faith as you wait for your seeds of faith to bring forth fruit in HIS timing.


Go here to view other Spiritual Sunday posts each Sunday. It's a wonderful place for inspiration.



**************************************************************************This is a story about a seed. It is also a story about faith.

Mickey & I were privileged to travel our great United States and Canada after his retirement. I'm not exactly sure of the year, but I know it was in the early 2000's we purchased some fresh fruit - apricots & preaches. After eating them we decided it would be fun to plant one seed of each. We got two coffee cans and planted the two seeds. We carried these coffee cans with us until we returned to our home in Coweta and placed them on the side of the house. Truthfully, we pretty much forgot about them.


About 5 years ago we noticed that one of the seeds had grown into a small plant and Mickey decided to plant it in the center of our backyard. Had I known , ( I wasn't blogging back then!!!) what I know now I would have taken a picture of this wee little tree that was about 10-12 inches tall. Over the next few years it began to grow, with the branches very low to the ground. Two years ago, when it was about 4 feet tall Mickey spoke to one of the professionals at a garden center about it and how to prune it. The lower branches were then pruned. Last year for the very first time the tree actually had blossoms in the spring!!





We got very excited and thought, "Maybe we are going to have fruit!" The blossoms turned into leaves and we enjoyed this pretty little tree in the middle of our back yard but no fruit.



This spring we once again had blossoms and we have been watching it each and every week.





The picture is dark, and not the best, but if you enlarge it you can see it is loaded with little fruits!!!!



Here is a close up of one of the fruits taking shape. Now, all this time, we had no idea whether it was a peach tree or an apricot tree. We really didn't care we were just excited that one of the seeds had made it!!!!! Now that the fruit is taking shape I "think" it is an apricot. I'll let you know when we are sure!!!

These two seeds planted so many years ago have an important lesson to teach.

FIRST, only one of them "made" it. Why? Only God knows. They were planted in the same size containers, in the same dirt and made the identical journal back to our home in Coweta. They both set in their cans by the side of the same house, with the same sun, moon, rain, snow, ice, etc. effecting them. For some reason the one did not grow. Was it the seed itself, since they were from different trees? Or was it that one just didn't want to put forth the effort?



SECOND, Mickey took the time and effort to plant both these seeds, and then to replant the one that showed it was alive and growing. He has nursed this little green shoot along these 5 years as God has brought it forth first into a full grown tree, then into bearing blossoms and now this year to it's original intended use....bearing fruit.



This seed, tree, fruit, also speaks to me on a personal spiritual level. I have seeds that I have planted, some of which have died. Why? Only God knows. But, I also have seeds that I am watering, pruning, tending and most importantly, watching and waiting patiently for God to bring forth those seeds into the full grown tree, blossoms and then His original intended purpose.....bearing fruit.



Two lessons here also: We must tend to the seeds we have planted and we must rely on God for the results which He has known from the beginning.



Seed time and harvest.......it's true in the natural and it's true in the spiritual.



I still have some seeds that are at various stages of death, new growth, growing, blossoming and bearing fruit. I'm not giving up on mine....even the ones that "appear" dead because my God can restore all things.



How about you?



Plant those seeds believing for a harvest and then be faithful in your words, your prayers, your time, your efforts to supply your end of the "works" so that God can bring forth the end He has known from the beginning.



I LOVE GOD: Father, Son & Holy Ghost!!!!



Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.



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23 comments:

Kahri said...

I love your story, Susan...and your application. Wonderful! And can't wait to hear more about your fruits...both kinds.

Sunny said...

Love this post Susan! I heard Joyce Meyer on this same teaching, (in fact I have it on CD)and she said it this way, "Seed....time....and harvest". Yes it does take time, and I have many "seeds" that are in the "time" catagory :) Have a blessed day. I am off to Wally-world for a paper shredder. I have a whole tote-full of logbooks from trucking days I am going to shred for mulch in the garden.

Kathy said...

Susan, that is awesome. I love hearing the journey of the seed and the young plant, and now, fruit. How blessed you are to enjoy this part of it. I think of the men and women of old who believed for things they never saw, but now, WE see it because it has come to pass. God is faithful, and He is all knowing.

I like what Sunny said in Joyce Meyer's quote, "Seed....time....and harvest".

Mari said...

I love this! I think it's great that you have a tree with fruit from a seed you planted. We don't usually start a tree from seed, and how interesting to watch it grow.
Better yet is the way you applied it to our lives and our personal seeds.

Momma Roar said...

First, that is so incredible that your tree is growing and its travel story! And what amazing lessons from its life! A post I'll come back to again! :)

Brenda said...

I enjoy how the Lord uses everyday things in our lives to bring further growth in him!

Tiffany said...

I love this. Sometimes we miss the little spiritual reminders the Lord sends us through everyday miracles. I just had an old friend find me on facebook that I witnessed to over 15 years ago. I planted a seed, not sure I'd ever know if it took root. But, I got my answer a couple weeks ago.They told me they recently found the Lord and thanked me for praying for them all these years. Praise God! :D

Debra said...

This is a wonderful story Susan, as I read it I couldn't help but pray, Lord help me to bear more good fruit!

linda said...
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Sandra said...

What a wonderful story and seeing the spiritual truth in it.

I think it is a sign for you and Mickey that the harvest is near and you will actually see it happen.

kc bob said...

What a cool story Susan.

Mary@notbefore7 said...

Came by to see how you were - what a cool story to read! Awesome! CAn't wait to find out what fruit it is :)

Mary Lee said...

Thanks for the traveling seed/tree story and its many applications. It is truly amazing how you can plant seeds and some grow while the others don't. You are right ..only God knows!

Whidbey Woman said...

This is a great post. Especially this time of year when we all start thinking about our gardens. I love your analogies. Have a blessed Spiritual Sunday.

Fitter After 50 said...

I thought I commented here. Maybe I just read it but I liked the story the first time I read it and I liked it the second time around.

Charlotte said...

What a wonderful lesson. I'm glad you are getting fruit on your tree. Thank you for sharing. Whether it is apricot or peach (I love both), eat one for me.
Blessings,
Charlotte

Anonymous said...

Beautiful post Susan. You didn't show up in my google reader, but I saw your note on FB to check your post out and I'm so glad I did! Hope I haven't missed more posts.

Susan B said...

How exciting about your tree and its first fruit! I loved your post, thank you for sharing it.

Nikki (Sarah) said...

wow. I loved this story..I love the analogy with that seed. Really spoke to me and it will really stay in my head...thank you. sarah

Maxine said...

Susan, this story was wonderful. It so touched my heart, I can't tell you. This was an important lesson I needed to hear, especially today after the ministry of the Word which I heard. Thank you for sharing this, dear sister. You guys are such a blessing.

mari horn said...

Susan - i just love that your blog is so applicable to my own life. We have been working with our kids on this very thing , literally! Immediate gratification is so readily available to us all these days that we tend to forget how to be patient. The problem is that we get so used to not having to wait for things that when we do not quickly see our heavenly fathers blessings we get discouraged, angry and begin to doubt. This year instead of buying flowers from Sanders we planted our own flowers. Instead of forgetting the plants and innevitably forgetting to water them we have watered, nutured, and watched our seedlings grow. We have such anticipation for the beautiful flowers that thy will eventually bring. It has been fun to grow in our relationships as a family while we enjoy the comraderie!!

Haelie said...

I just love how He teaches us lessons through so many things around us! Thanks for sharing. Great lessons!

Joy said...

Susan I really enjoyed reading this. What a great analogy to life. I'm excited about your fruit tree giving you a harvest. That is wonderful. Mickey is so blessed with a green thumb.
♥ Joy