Lemons

About seven years ago, we received a lemon tree as a gift from a dear family that lived with us for a few months while they were locating to Houston.  For years, the tree was about two feet tall, even though it was watered and in plenty of sun light.  Larry faithfully pruned the tree each year and we anticipated blooms and lemons.  It grew little by little through the years.  About a year ago, the tree had a major growth spurt, blossoms appeared, and tiny lemons began to form.  For months now, I have checked every day to see if there was a hint of yellow to show that the lemons were ripening.  I did ask Larry if he was sure it was a lemon tree and not a lime tree.  The yellow has begun to appear on the lemons and the first ones will be ready to pick this week.  We’ve noticed that the lemons that receive the most direct sunlight, are ripening first.  The tree was expected to produce lemons, the fruit turned yellow like a lemon, but it was when it was cut and tasted that it confirmed that we indeed had delicious lemons to enjoy.

Lessons I’ve learned along the way:

* It takes time and attention to detail for beneficial growth to happen.

* It’s important to keep up with preparation and care, even when you don’t see as much progress as you would like.

* Sometimes it takes a lot of pruning and time before you see successful growth and results.

* It’s important to stay in the Son’s light for growth.

* Trees aren’t the only thing God created to bear fruit.

Just like the ripening fruit on the trees, the children of God will be recognized by the fruit we bear and share.  People will recognize us as followers of Jesus when we produce the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5:22-23

Then God said, “Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds.” And it was so.

Genesis 1:11

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.

Leviticus 26:4

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

Ecclesiastes 3:1

“Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Matthew 12:33

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2

Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:4

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5