Teachable Moment (for Janna and Jessica)

So Justin has been growing this tomato plant in our backyard for the past few months. He fertilized it with special plant food and watered it everyday thinking ahead when it would bear fruit. We were excited to go out everyday to see how much it had grown. A while back Janna realized that there were tomatoes on the plant so we took time to explain to her that we have to wait for the tomatoes to be ready before we can pick them off of the plant. Well, the other day when I walked inside for a minute she picked 7 of the 8 small, tough, green tomatoes. As I was walking back out I noticed she was standing by the plant and I saw tomatoes on the ground. My heart dropped and I got,as best as I can describe it, a sick feeling in my stomach. In that moment I thought Justin is going to kill her. But behind that thought there was so much more. I was standing there looking at my child who had just given into to flesh and disobeyed her parents. At the cost of a relatively fruitless plant. Thats when I felt the Holy Spirit convicting me of my disobedience. What an illustration, I got a glimpse of what God goes through every time we give into flesh and ruin His fruit. The disappointment & physical sickness that I felt when that happened is only a portion of what God must feel when we, His children disobey or do not adhere to His written and spoken Word. That experience was both enlightening & convicting in so many ways.

I write this for a couple of reasons.
1. This was a very impactful event for me spiritually.
2. The Holy Spirit was able to speak to me in such a strong way. I haven't experienced Him in that capacity in a long time so I can't help but tell someone. I think that the reason He was able to speak to me so clearly and powerfully was because I have really challenged myself lately to read The Word more and spend more time in prayer, in that I have been so sensitive to His leading.

What does that mean for you, reader of this post?
Apart from laughing because Janna picked a bunch of green tomatoes, assuming you're a believer, Your Holy Father is waiting to teach , be intimate, love, encourage, guide, and show Himself to you everyday. Bring yourself to a place where He will come into your presence. Talk with Him, read His unchanging, eternal Word. And expect for Him to respond.