Home Grown Tomatoes
“But the fruit of the spirit is love…” Galatians 5:22
Home grown tomato sandwiches. Now you ask what in the world does a home-grown tomato sandwich have to do with the fruit of the spirit known as love? I have written a blog before about how folks have used the word “love” in describing how they feel about things, like cars, clothes, haircuts, etc. Those are things that we like, not things for which we would sacrifice our lives. I used to say that I “loved” home-grown tomato sandwiches. I don’t love them. I wouldn’t make a significant sacrifice for one, but I do like them, though, they don’t taste the same since my husband passed away. When two people have been married a long time and one passes away, nothing is the same anymore.
We used to grow tomatoes. I would make a sandwich for each of us, just tomatoes, mayonnaise, salt, pepper, and bread, of course. We would enjoy it so much that I would make one more sandwich and cut it in half. But I always cut his half bigger than mine because I wanted him to have the better half. I did this because I loved him. Of course, all of the things that we did for each other was out of love for one another. That’s what marriage is, or at least what it is supposed to be: two people who make sacrifices for each other. When we truly love others, we will want them to have better than we have. That is what is known as “agape” love.
I had a conversation with the man who used to clean the building where I work. We discussed the scripture that admonishes us to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3). I asked, “What if everyone did that? Would this not be a different world?” He agreed that it would. A test of our commitment to Christ is whether we love others or not. John wrote that he who does not love others abides apart from Christ (I John 3:14). Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for us sinners because He loves us. He expects those who are committed to Him to love others sacrificially, putting others needs ahead of our own. You see, if everyone did that, then everyone’s needs would be met. We would look out for one another.
There are a lot of television commercials on during this coronavirus pandemic which are stressing the fact that we are all in this together. Folks are being asked to look out for their neighbors and share what they have to others in need. The medical profession, first responders, farmers, food processors, grocery store workers, and truckers are all being praised for their efforts in keeping the nation rocking along. There is a real spirit of love, compassion, and caring for each other across the land even while practicing social distancing. Will we keep it up, or will we eventually go back to the “same old, same old” division, envy, and greed?
Sacrificial love is longsuffering, kind, humble, perfect, and true; Is never jealous, boastful, or mean, and it will never fail me or you.