Plucked

We have a tiny garden. Tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapeño’s, and a few misc little hot peppers. As I sat on my back porch this evening enjoying the rolling thunder storms, I saw green tomatoes on the vine and a few that are beginning to take on the more familiar color of red.

I get frustrated when my husband picks the “almost all the way” red tomatoes. I asked him why he doesn’t let them fully ripen on the vine. He stood there looking at me like I was speaking Latin. “Let the poor tomato become ripe and bright red before plucking him from his family. They taste so much better left to ripen on the vine instead of on our kitchen counter.” It was then that it hit me…

Just like a tomato – we can be “plucked” before we have reached full potential. What is the source of the “plucking?” Harsh comments can stop us in our tracks. Being surrounded by negativity can pluck us too early. Our own inner critic tries to convince us we have nothing to offer. It’s easy to go through life being plucked too early and left to ripen on the kitchen counter – where our full flavor never becomes reality.

Jesus has big plans for each of us and He longs to see us grow and ripen on The Vine. His very words are, “I am the True Vine.” If we stay connected to Him, only He can coax out our unique flavor and add it to the world we live in, the big salad bowl we call Earth. However, this world is harsh and often doesn’t want us to survive, so it easily plucks us before our time.

How to avoid premature plucking:
1. Surround yourself with positive people, full of grace & truth.
2. Ignore your nasty inner critic and listen to that Still Small Voice that tells you that you are beautiful or handsome and have great value!
3. Develop your creative life and learn to express your true voice.
4. Cling to the Vine, Jesus Himself. Spend time sitting quietly with Him. Your words are not needed. Instead, just quiet yourself and listen for His voice.
5. Learn to see you as the Father sees you, all that you are created to be.
6. Strive for full ripeness, bright color and vivid flavor and allow yourself to be added to the big salad bowl. Your flavor is needed.

For more on developing your creative life…stay tuned to vertical creativity.
Grace & peace on the journey ~ deAnn