Every season is different.

I tilled the ground. I sowed good seeds. I’ve watered, weeded, and fed diligently. I’ve been in my garden in the mornings and evenings doing the work and anticipating a good harvest. I’ve tried to minimize any potential loss by warding off bugs and disease. I’ve poured my strength and literal sweat into what I imagine will be a plentiful harvest.  Keep in mind that I have done this for several years, and while no two seasons are the same, my expectations are high. I’ve planted crops that have produced well before, and I’ve learned from the past and tried to correct my mistakes. This is my season!

The greenery has been lush and the vibrant white and yellow blooms indicators of a promising harvest. So, my hopes have been high.

Not everything produces at the same time, so I hadn’t been concerned that my tomatoes weren’t coming in yet. I’ve excitedly pulled green beans, okra, onions, collard greens, peas, and plenty of herbs. Finally, I noticed tiny green tomatoes – most smaller than the size of a jellybean. Surely, they will grow and ripen into sweet, red goodness. I just have to give it a few days. Patience is definitely a virtue in gardening. However, after a few days, I noticed that the tiny green berries were now tiny red berries. These miniature tomatoes didn’t look like anything that I’d ever seen, and they definitely didn’t look like what I’d envisioned. However, I knew that they were ripe and ready to pick. So, I had to decide. Do I put in the time and energy to pick these itty-bitty tomatoes, or do I just leave them there and wait for the next batch? Well, the reality was that if I just left them there, they would die on the vine. My time, my energy, and my efforts would have all been wasted. They would eventually fall to the ground and nourish no one. And that is when I realized that I am not the only one facing this decision to pick or let perish. Many of us are allowing our harvest – our hopes, our dreams, our purpose – to die on the vine. It may not look like what you thought it would. The platform may be different. It may be smaller or larger than you thought. The timing may seem off. You may have to change locations. The people may not be the same. Nonetheless, the harvest is ripe.

So, I picked the itty-bitty tomatoes. I ate some and shared the rest. They were good! Pick the fruit you have before you. You owe it to yourself and those waiting for what you have to offer.