Just before Father’s Day this year I planted out a punnet of 6 tomato seedlings… although I’m a useless gardener I’m not in the regular habit of praying for the things I plant but this time I did pray – but not so much for them to survive me – but for God to speak to me about relationships THROUGH them.
I go to these tomato bushes every few days and try to watch and listen.
Observation 1. One small bush died about a month in. They’re planted in a row of large pots along the front of the house. (The pots in which our 25 year old roses met their demise last summer). The one that died had the shallowest earth but also the least amount of sun in the day. So we figure it was likely the lack of sunlight that caused its downfall.
Lesson 1 – we need to live out our relationships in the light. Alone and together. The light feeds us in ways we may not recognise till the lack is manifesting. And the lack can kill.
Observation 2. About 6 weeks in I noticed a couple of snail shells in the pots so off to Bunnings went I and snail pellets were purchased and sprinkled same day. No more snails forthwith.
Lesson 2 – we need to be watchful for the small pests that seek to kill and destroy our relationships. They can infiltrate almost unseen through their effects will always be eventually known. They may be as roaring lions, little foxes or slithering pests. They all seek and can bring about destruction if not protected against.
Observation 3. About 8 weeks in the bush next to the one that died, also seemed to have died. More earth in the pot – so not that – but now this was the one that received the shade next in the day, so probably not enough sunlight again. I wriggled all the pots along a bit – and like Wesley, as it only appeared “mostly dead” I kept on watering it just in case. It was at this point I figured maybe some Seasol might help them along so the 4 healthy and the 1 mostly dead got a dose that day. This poor bush continued looking mostly dead for a time but now shows strong signs of pulling through.
Lesson 3 – sometimes a relationship can appear dead but there just might be enough life hidden in its roots to draw enough sustenance, if it receives the needed nurture, to come back from its way to the grave.
Observation 4. The next bush in the line is the largest and healthiest looking. Nearly twice the size of one of the other healthy strong plants. But. It has no fruit. The other three healthy ones all have fruit in varying sizes, but this one – none. It is large and shady (Jonah would have approved) but all show. Rod – being a decent gardener told me recently that tomatoes need some of their growth removed so that their energy gets more directed from growing so much foliage and into the production of fruit. So I trimmed. A bit haphazardly as I don’t know the tricks that I’m sure should be applied – but lo and behold – while there’s still no fruit, there are flowers.
Lesson 4 – the big show might in fact be a no show. And second to that – pruning is good. It might seem odd to remove perfectly healthy growth but if the purpose is fruit, the growth needs to be channelled. A showy relationship might be a nice show, but it won’t be sustaining. And getting to the growth that sustains may take some pain. Feel like I’ve come across this principle somewhere else.
Observation 5. The next 3 bushes are all doing well. All have been trimmed. All have a decent amount of earth. All get lots of sunshine. All get lots of water. All have been snail protected. All have been fertilised. The fact that all are well watered is in itself a small miracle since the lack of it the main reason my plants die. It’s the reason the roses all died last summer. I do better at the feeding and watering of children than of plants but the fact these bushes are in the rose graves helps me remember. This summer at least. And our recent rains have certainly helped.
Lesson 5 – Jesus said He is the water of life for a reason. He is showing us that just as living things need water to survive – we need Him to survive and thrive. And our relationships do too. Not ‘just’ to sustain life within, but to wash us when the hurts need soothing. Relationships where people can wash each other in the water of His Word – speaking life and gospel – get helped and healed in a way only He can have provided, or that only He can work within.
Observation 6. Some of the fruit on the bushes seems close to full size. Some look like green cherries. The fruit is coming, and it’s exciting to watch.
Lesson 6 – the fruit is coming but I can’t make it hurry. No matter how long I stare at it each day, I can’t make it be red and ripe a single moment sooner than its going to be without my wishfulness.
Observation 7. There are other pests coming against the fruit. Some other bug perhaps… so off to Bunnings went I again and came home armed with some chilli/garlic spray to fend whatever it is away. No further damage has occurred since.
Lesson 7 – attacks will come in different forms. Making a single ring of protection won’t be enough. Staying vigilant matters. First round of victory isn’t the war won.
Observation 8. At some point in time, each of the tomato plants grew enough that they needed to be tied to a garden stake or trellis. And as they continue grow, the new growth also needed tying to the trellis. Without the support of the trellis, the new growth above the initial tie fell down in the storms on Sunday/Monday and started to split the branches.
Lesson 8 – Growth needs binding to structure and support. Without it it can become rangey and a danger to itself, the health of the plant and the development of the potential fruit. It’s not enough to have been bound the once… it needs to happen continuously. Doing life beside a support wont help if not attached.
Observation 9. The prunings die.
Lesson 9 – once cut off from the vine, the ‘life-blood’ cannot flow. While the health of the plant and fruit depends partly on being pruned, the same principle holds true when for any other reason a branch does not remain on the vine. Whether pruned by a deliberate action, or severed by destruction, the disconnected dies.
Observation 10. One of the bushes had almost no visible fruit but one day I sat down nearby instead of standing above and saw heaps and heaps of small green fruit camouflaged beneath the leaves. A change of view showed something I hadn’t seen all the days previous.
Lesson 10. Just because the desired fruit isn’t readily visible – doesn’t mean it’s not there. Perhaps a change in perspective will show what wasn’t seen before.
Observation 11. Every day I’m excited to check and see how they’re going. Are the leaves healthy…? is the fruit blemish free…? do they need retying to the stakes…? are any ripening…? The leaves on one plant don’t look so good – why? Am I not doing everything it needs? Is there too much afternoon sun in that spot?
Lesson 11. Investment correlates to care.
Observation 12. First harvest!!! Well. One tomato ready to pick. Red and round and firm. And small. Sigh. Barely bigger than the cherry tomatoes I accidentally planted last time. Served in style reminiscent of Tom and Barbara Good’s egg under a silver cloche – we feasted (tasted) our tiny tomato between us we two. Loaded with flavour. Juicy and ripe. Just not very much of it.
Lesson 12. The fruit is on the way! Only one yesterday, and small at that, but two bigger ones tomorrow and a rush coming after that. Would there be ANY if I’d planted nothing? Would there be ANY if I’d given up? Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin…”
Observation 13. The biggest rangiest bush, which had the heaviest pruning, is now the one bearing most fruit.
Lesson 13. New growth comes back after pruning. God prunes so THAT we will bear fruit!
Observation 14. The plant that was ‘mostly dead’ is doing well. It is smaller than the others but its growth is robust, its leaves a deeper green, not yet in need of staking but strong and with flowers.
Lesson 14. Where there’s life there’s hope.
Observation 15. One day about a fortnight ago, a couple of these bushes received an accidental spray of poison intended for the couch grass growing where it oughtn’t. Upon realisation of this fact these bushes had an immediate and very thorough spraying down from the garden hose.
Lesson 15. God has provided the water of the Word to wash contamination away from us.
Observation 16. The spray I initially bought to keep the bugs away, turned out to not be so great as some little bug holes were found in a few of the first of the crop. A stronger substance was applied which now seems to have done the trick. Though it isn’t a ‘once and for all’ treatment, it needs repeating from time to time.
Lesson 16. Diligence against the devourer matter.
Observation 17. The biggest, rangiest bush outgrew its stake at a time I wasn’t able to either notice or do anything about it. Now nearly two weeks on it would do more damage to the main stem which has grown on a downwards direction so I’ve lifted it from draping onto the ground to see out its days resting on a milk crate. It’s better than nothing and still some support. I told you I was a useless gardener.
Lesson 17. Sometimes damage occurs but Jesus gently tends.
Bonus Lesson at any time I can stop feeding, watering, protecting and providing for these plants – and if I do – they will die.
Relationships need no less.
