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Tomatoes
A farmer decided one day that he would grow the best tomatoes anywhere. He prepared a small space on his farm that they would
occupy with all the best things. He plowed the land till it was completely free of rocks or lumps that would get in the way of the root
structures of the plants. Then he bought special expensive fertilizer and tilled it into the earth. All of the small and tall trees were cut
back so that his plants would have the benefit of all the sun he could provide.
When he was satisfied with the land he went to the market in town and bought the most beautiful and plump tomatoes he could find then
brought them home, planted the seeds and waited. As the seeds began to sprout the man would cut away the yellowish leaves and when
an insect crawled up the stem the man would swiftly pull it off and throw it away.
When the tomatoes ripened they were glorious indeed and were gently picked and taken inside to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Many seasons went by and the farmer continued his practice but, after a while the tomatoes weren't as large or red anymore and some
of the plants drooped to the ground as they grew. He and his family grew disappointed with the weak taste. Distressed, the man went
into the village market to ask for advice. He saw a booth that was crowded with customers and that had the biggest, reddest, best
tasting tomatoes he had ever seen.
"How do you grow these?" the farmer asked.
"Oh, not a lot to it really" the small man answered.
"I don't sell tomatoes, I only have a few small plants and they're just for my family. If you tell me how to do this I promise to never sell any
that I grow ever." the farmer pleaded.
The little man smiled, told him to wait till the end of the day and he could come to his farm and see for himself.
So the farmer helped in the booth all day and waited and wondered. When all the produce had been sold, the farmer rode home with the
little man to learn the secret. On the little man's land he saw big lots full of tangled vines and unplowed fields with huge tomato plants
struggling against each other to get the most sun. Insects crawled everywhere and had eaten a great number of the almost ripened fruit.
"This is how you grow those beautiful tomatoes you sold today?" asked the farmer.
"Sure. I put just a little chicken manure in the ground at the start when I plant, they don't need much more."
"But what about all the insects eating the fruit?" he said with surprise.
"They don't get all of them, just the ones with weak skins, the stronger plants do fine." the little man said.
"Then what about water? You have to water them at least!?"
The little man turned to his guest and smile his big smile. "My friend, these plants have been here long before me. Some years they do
really well but some years they don't. When it's a dry year most don't survive but the strong ones will and I keep seeds from other strong
plants ready just in case I have to start all over again."
The farmer just looked at the place in awe for a moment before the little man spoke again.
"I'll bet you've done everything you could think of to grow the best tomatoes you could. You've watered everyday, fertilized, and given
them everything they needed to thrive. But did it ever occur to you that God grows pretty good tomatoes without much of our help?"
The little man smiled, got out of the wagon and stretched.
"The ones that overcome the dry years and grow quick to get the sun, the ones that adapt.... well, that’s all built into the plan. Life ain't
easy on any of us and the more we try and make it easy... the less we get out of it. Yep... I mostly just let God take care of it."
The little man got back in, turned the cart around and they headed back to the village.
Original Writings by Jesse Holland Copyright 2007
occupy with all the best things. He plowed the land till it was completely free of rocks or lumps that would get in the way of the root
structures of the plants. Then he bought special expensive fertilizer and tilled it into the earth. All of the small and tall trees were cut
back so that his plants would have the benefit of all the sun he could provide.
When he was satisfied with the land he went to the market in town and bought the most beautiful and plump tomatoes he could find then
brought them home, planted the seeds and waited. As the seeds began to sprout the man would cut away the yellowish leaves and when
an insect crawled up the stem the man would swiftly pull it off and throw it away.
When the tomatoes ripened they were glorious indeed and were gently picked and taken inside to be enjoyed by the whole family.
Many seasons went by and the farmer continued his practice but, after a while the tomatoes weren't as large or red anymore and some
of the plants drooped to the ground as they grew. He and his family grew disappointed with the weak taste. Distressed, the man went
into the village market to ask for advice. He saw a booth that was crowded with customers and that had the biggest, reddest, best
tasting tomatoes he had ever seen.
"How do you grow these?" the farmer asked.
"Oh, not a lot to it really" the small man answered.
"I don't sell tomatoes, I only have a few small plants and they're just for my family. If you tell me how to do this I promise to never sell any
that I grow ever." the farmer pleaded.
The little man smiled, told him to wait till the end of the day and he could come to his farm and see for himself.
So the farmer helped in the booth all day and waited and wondered. When all the produce had been sold, the farmer rode home with the
little man to learn the secret. On the little man's land he saw big lots full of tangled vines and unplowed fields with huge tomato plants
struggling against each other to get the most sun. Insects crawled everywhere and had eaten a great number of the almost ripened fruit.
"This is how you grow those beautiful tomatoes you sold today?" asked the farmer.
"Sure. I put just a little chicken manure in the ground at the start when I plant, they don't need much more."
"But what about all the insects eating the fruit?" he said with surprise.
"They don't get all of them, just the ones with weak skins, the stronger plants do fine." the little man said.
"Then what about water? You have to water them at least!?"
The little man turned to his guest and smile his big smile. "My friend, these plants have been here long before me. Some years they do
really well but some years they don't. When it's a dry year most don't survive but the strong ones will and I keep seeds from other strong
plants ready just in case I have to start all over again."
The farmer just looked at the place in awe for a moment before the little man spoke again.
"I'll bet you've done everything you could think of to grow the best tomatoes you could. You've watered everyday, fertilized, and given
them everything they needed to thrive. But did it ever occur to you that God grows pretty good tomatoes without much of our help?"
The little man smiled, got out of the wagon and stretched.
"The ones that overcome the dry years and grow quick to get the sun, the ones that adapt.... well, that’s all built into the plan. Life ain't
easy on any of us and the more we try and make it easy... the less we get out of it. Yep... I mostly just let God take care of it."
The little man got back in, turned the cart around and they headed back to the village.
Original Writings by Jesse Holland Copyright 2007