Yesterday afternoon, I was in the garden picking cherry tomatoes, and though it has been hot and dry, there were hundreds of ripe little tomatoes on my six plants. I had picked all we could eat and was wondering who I could give the rest of them to. About that time, I saw a man pushing a grocery cart down the street loaded with aluminum cans. As I approached him, I could see he was hot, tired and drenched in sweat. He chose a hot day to be picking up cans.
I asked him, hoping he would say yes, "Do you like cherry tomatoes?" He couldn't hear me and came closer. I repeated the question and he humbly said, "yes sir, I sure do". Most of his front teeth were missing. He seemed very timid. "Do you like corn and peas?" "Yes sir, I was raised on a farm and I enjoy anything out of a garden" he said, with very much gratitude in his voice. He didn't have a bag or anything, so I got him several bags for the corn and an ice cream bucket for the tomatoes.
I told him if we get the rains, we would have a good turnip patch. He said he loved turnips and turnip greens. I told him to be watching and when they were ready he was welcome to get all he wanted.
He looked tired, but he also looked hungry. I told him my name before I left and he told me his. "Thank you sir, I really appreciate it," he said as we shook hands.
Usually when someone tells me their name, I am thinking about what to say next and quickly forget it. Not with this guy. Something about him I really liked and felt drawn to. As I looked back, he was happily gathering tomatoes and I was happy that I had met him.
He doesn't know it, but he helped me more than I helped him. I know nothing about this man. He could have been drug addict or had a criminal past. I don't care. All I could see was a fellow human being hot and tired and I don't know why, but something urged me to call out to him.
I thought I had problems, not any more. With the current economic problems, I imagine, having enough food and cool shelter is a major task for him. Yes, he might be on welfare and food stamps. But one thing I know, my compassion for him and his well being flowed as river in my soul. It was good to feel like that again.
We have millions in this country just like him. They need help, whether they are on welfare or abusing welfare they need help. This help does not have to come from the government and it does not necessarily need to be money. We all need direction and encouragement.
As I was reading last night, I could not get this man out of my mind. I hoped he was alright. I wondered where he lived. Did he have a family? Then I realized I had given him something else the heat and drought had not effected. It was a fruit when given, helps the giver and the recipient. As I showed him the tomatoes, I also showed him, not realizing at the time, fruit of the Spirit, kindness and love, that God's Spirit had produced in me to give away. (Read Gal. 5:22) This fruit produced a smile on this man's face and gratitude in his heart.
As you know from my recent post, I enjoy working in the garden, planting seeds, watching them grow and eating the fruits of my labor. I enjoy more, God's Spirit working in the garden of my heart, producing a fruit I cannot grow in the garden. A fruit, when I show and give away, can change me and the world I live in.
After I read Galatians chapter 5 last night, emotions swelled inside me. Then I turned to one of my favorite chapters of the Bible, 1 Corinthians chapter 13. Nothing matters in this world if I don't have love. I can give fortunes away, and sacrifice all of my time, but without love, it profits me nothing.
I hope this man comes back to the garden. I want to show him, not what I have done, but what God, if allowed, can produce out of the garden of the heart.
The fruit of the spirit and lasting love is another solution to bringing our great nation back where she needs to be.
Each day let's make a goal to give away some fruit of the Spirit. I think we will be surprised at the difference this will make.
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Thank you so much for reading. Please share with others.
Rick Hepler
