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Fruit of Your Labor

Fruit of Your Labor

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Fruit of Your Labor--flower and vegetable garden with orchard in backgroundMy dad’s garden and orchard fed our family plus dozens of others. He spent years growing food and flowers as a labor of love. Dad also understood what it means to enjoy the fruit of your labor.

The fruit of your labor means the reward for your work.

Your efforts pay off. Because you refuse to give up, you bear fruit.

Long hours and hard work make you appreciate the fruit of your labor.

  • Farmers harvest their crops.
  • Gardeners enjoy vegetables, fruit, and flowers.
  • Students celebrate graduation.
  • Business owners enjoy profits.

You benefit from your investment of:

  • Time
  • Money
  • Muscle (mental or physical)

The harder the work the more enjoyable the fruit of your labor.

Life may give you long rows to hoe. However, you usually reap what you sow. Greater efforts result in greater rewards.

Make relationships your most important investment.

According to the Bible, the greatest commandments are to love God and love one another. The best fruit does not result from a focus on self. Rather, it grows from love and service.

“Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours” (Psalm 128:1-2 NIV).

Thanks to Beckham Wilson for the suggestion.

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Bear Fruit

Bear Fruit

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Bear Fruit--berries on a cherry treeDo berries grow on a cherry tree? I don’t think so. Yet, this picture looks that way.

Plants bear their own kind of fruit.

Berries grow on berry vines or plants. Cherries grow on cherry trees.

People also bear fruit.

Like plants, they bear their own kind of fruit.

  • Farmers grow crops.
  • Owners of clothing stores sell clothes.
  • Artists create works of art.

All have their own talents. Like the berry vine on this cherry tree, people may get close to those with other talents. Yet they bear our own fruit. Few people are a jack of all trades.

To bear fruit means people have good results.

Their work ends in success.

  • Farmers grow good crops.
  • Clothing store owners sell lots of clothes.
  • Artists create amazing paintings or other works of art.

Whatever people’s talents, they do well to bear the best fruit possible.

Remember, people reap what they sow. Therefore, they need to put their hand to the plow, ready to do good work

“No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers” (Luke 6: 43-44 NIV).

Thanks to Ron and Mary Lou Rafferty for the suggestion and picture.

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Stick to the Ribs

Stick to the Ribs

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Stick to the Ribs--platter of roast beef , potatoes, carrots, onionsI recently said I thought gravy was for the birds. J.T. Henderson commented, “Now gravy I like – ‘stick-to-the-ribs’ food.” My dad often said the same thing.

We usually like foods that stick to the ribs.

We describe them as:

  • Good to taste and good for you
  • Long lasting
  • Energy giving

They keep us going, even on cold, snowy days. They offer comfort. Sometimes they make us think of home.

Foods often described as stick to the ribs include:

  • Chili or thick soup (especially in cold weather)
  • Biscuits and gravy (even if I disagree)
  • Steak and potatoes

 My favorites include:

  • Roast beef with potatoes, carrots, and onions
  • Corn from my garden
  • Coleslaw
  • Cornbread
  • Chocolate covered almonds (or almost anything chocolate)

Many favorites are not really good for us.

We simply like to eat them.

  • We know we should eat whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
  • Yet, we say, “Forget the salad. Give me something that will stick to the ribs.”

Perhaps a better description for them would be stick to the belly. Getting food to stick there is easy as pie. However, when we try to get it off, we have our work cut out for us.

“Therefore, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).

Thanks to J.T. Henderson for the idea. What is your favorite stick-to-the-ribs food? Comment below.

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