Sow and Bear Fruit

‘If you believe that in your life you are called to give more and more of yourself—not a little, but everything with which you can feed others and quench their thirst—then you can count on bearing enormous fruit. That transcends the limits of your life—that little bit of time allotted to you. Just as the death of Jesus would bear fruit for one future generation after another, so can anyone who lives like Jesus, as a beloved son or daughter of God, be sure that his or her life will bear fruit in the future and that all generations will call you blessed. You realize that with every little you give, you are already beginning to bear fruit as a beloved child of God.’

I saw these words by Henry Nouwen in a recent glossy about him, and they inspired me. God does not expect us, his children, to do impossible feats. The essential things in life are the small and insignificant things to which we are devoted. That small work will bear fruit.

My husband and I recently visited a family that newly arrived in an asylum center. They had been traveling from North Africa for more than a year, fleeing for their faith. They would now be staying in an asylum center for a few weeks. His wife was about to give birth, and the husband only had one set of clothes. Even though we couldn’t communicate, the man insisted we stay for tea. We were his first guests, as well as fellow believers. He pulled three tangerines and an apple from a kitchen cabinet, sliced them, and placed the pieces on a plate. He poured us a drink and served us the fruit. He raised his hands excitedly and said something we didn’t understand several times. We asked a neighbor to translate for us, and it turned out that he said, ‘Heaven! It’s Heaven here!’

Paul writes in Galatians 6: ‘Whoever sows to please the Spirit, will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have the opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of faith.’ Let us not become discouraged and grow weary of doing good. God provides the fruit as we sow.

Sow from the love you have received from God. Sow from the words you have heard from God. Sow from the light, peace, and wisdom. Then you will bear great fruit!

What have you sown today?