Monday, 20 September 2010

Bearing Fruit

Chilli Plant has borne fruit
Having been unsuccessful in her previous attempt in growing chillies from seed, the Swallow wanted to try again and she did so in October last year.  The start of her experiment as well as the transplanting of the plants are mentioned in her post "Chilli Plant Experiment".  The little chilli plants were placed indoors, at a well-lit-by-afternoon-sun location.

The Swallow was away for almost two weeks in June this year, attending a camp with her local church in Malaysia then dropping in to visit her parents and siblings on the way back to Singapore.  On her return, one of the first few things she did was to check on her plants.  How did they fare?  Did some of them die while she was away?  She had done what she could to keep them alive, but did these actions worked?

It was with a bit of trepidation when she checked on her plants, but these feelings of fear and anxiety were soon replaced with feelings of much joy when she saw that not only were they still alive, but two of the plants had borne fruit!
Harvest time is coming!

There was more joy when the fruit-bearing did not stop.  There are four chillies borne todate.  One has been eaten (so delicious!), one is turning red and two are growing longer.

Ripe Chilli
How does one describe a joy like that?  Is the joy similar to that feeling felt by a parent who has loved, cared for and trained his naughty young one, then sees his young one grow 'in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men'?  Is it similar to that feeling felt by a parent who releases the strings of authority on his young one slowly, then sees his young one willingly place himself under God's authority?  Or is it similar to that feeling felt by a parent who, after all the training and when the young one has shown that he can be responsible, lets his young one go then sees his young one continue on to be more and more responsible?  Yes!  Yes!  Yes!

Likewise, there will be much joy in heaven when the Heavenly Father sees His children bearing fruit.

Jesus said in John 15 : 8 (NKJV), "By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so that you will be My disciples".

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