Friday, November 16, 2007

Tomatoes

The joy of watching something grow is not appreciated by many people. You are not likely to see lines of people outside the botanical gardens waiting to see flowers bloom or grass grow.
Most people associate waiting with boredom and inconvenience, there are even socially acceptable amounts of time to wait for people, depending on the situation.

As a very young boy I spent countless days with my Grandfather in a small backyard in Elmhurst, NY tending to a garden of Green and Red Peppers, Eggplant and Tomatoes. My Grandfather was Sicilian, raised during the depression by very strict parents, he had a difficult life. Nothing was given to him, what he had he earned, one way or another. The garden was a bit of a sanctuary for him, a place to relax and laugh.
It was not till I was much older that I realized how special my relationship with my Grandfather was.
In that small garden, all I ever wanted to do was what my Grandfather was doing. He would tell me not to touch the plants, but I would see him snipping and staking and I would try to help. I thought he was growing tomatoes, I realize now he was growing a grandson. I thought he was tending to the plants, but he was tending to the delicate task of raising a grandson.
My grandfather was a regular guy, but in that regular guy I saw God for the first time. I saw patience and I experienced the love of a Father.


You are God to someone in your world.
You have a divine purpose.
If you have any doubt about how God sees you, read the first chapter of Ephesians.
The most important job on the planet is not being the President, a CEO of a large company or even a King.
The most important job is being a parent.
To take the responsibility for the life of another is an awesome thing and the most honorable.
Look around your world and see all the broken lives; you can make a difference in someone’s life. Maybe it is your Son or Daughter or maybe a complete stranger.
Grow something.
Have an awesome weekend!!
Steve