With a tinge of guilt, I destroyed my tomato bushes today. I have been told that some tomato varieties will have bushes that are called "duds". Both of mine turned out to be duds. I have babied them both since May by fertilizing, weeding, picking off cut worms...you know the drill. All in all, I think perhaps I reaped 10 tomatoes off two beautiful bushes. Usually, I have so many I end up giving them to friends. The plants were always healthy and grew to over 6 feet high....the only problem was that although many, many flowers were produced, no tomatoes would form.
Jesus told a parable once about a fig tree that would not bear. The master told the worker to cut it down and cast it into flames but the worker talked him into letting him try one more season to encourage the tree to bear. (I would have done this with my tomatoes but they are annuals.....besides, I babied them enough all summer.)
It gets frustrating some times sharing our testimonies and not seeing any fruit. We just have to keep on witnessing and cultivating our faith. The point is you are bearing fruit just by sharing your story. Be patient. Be sympathetic and loving. The person you are sharing with may need a lot of pruning, feeding, and encouraging. In your absence, the Lord will do His work. Remember, Paul said we plant, water, and cultivate....God makes the growing occur.
