Devotionals

---

About 5 years ago we were blessed with some raspberry plants from a friend. Lacking experience and a good spot to plant them we planted these small gifts where we thought it would give them the most sunshine. Although they received sunshine it seems they received more shade than sun. Given their appearance that looked more dead than alive they were often forgotten when it came to watering and sometimes when mowing.
Still most of these little plants made it through their first summer and surprised us that following spring with green little growth on them. Although they were not impressive in sight we were thrilled to see that they had made it through the winter.
They fared somewhat better than they had the previous summer and survived yet another winter.
The next spring we were surprised to find not only had they survived the winter, but apparently they had multiplied. Their roots had spread and now we were blessed with more. Now it was obvious these guys were here, and here to stay, so a lot more care was taken with watering and mowing.
Onto another Wisconsin winter and into the spring and summer of this year.
And they were growing and growing, until one day my girls came running in telling me that our raspberries were strangling the neighbors flowers. This year we saw them not only grow but thriving, and yes even produce a small handful of berries.
Makes me wonder what changes I will find in them next year. How far will they have spread? How much fruit will the produce? Or will they survive the winter at all?
Maybe these are the same questions I should be asking myself as a Christian about the upcoming year?
How much will I reach out to others?
How much fruit will I bear?
Will I continue to grow in who I am in Christ or will I wither in the harsh conditions that may come my way?
It is my desire to be like the berries in our yard, no matter how unlikely it looks, I will grow and thrive.

Mat 7:17,18 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE