Waiting for our jam

Our next door neighbours have recently added an extension on the back of their house. Much to our chagrin they decided to build right up to boundary line of the property title so their new addition is now our new fence. I was concerned that my treasured eighty year old fig tree that grows next to the old fence and therefore has half its roots under my neighbour's property would not survive. The builders dug up almost half of the trees’ roots to poor concrete for the new structure. I waited patiently to see if it would survive. Looking forward to eating its delicious fruits with my daughter this summer and attempting to make our yummy fig jam once more. I prayed it would make it.

The building was done in mid winter which was quite fortunate as the fig tree is deciduous and sheds all its leaves. In fact some may say that the tree appears dead at such a time.Things are often not what they appear to be. I read the following scripture from Luke 13:9, yesterday, which reminded me of our tree:


There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none,he said to the gardener, 'For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. (So) cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?' He said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it;it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.

Luke 13:9

It seems a little obscure at first and even when looked at contextually (if there is such a word) sounds a little like one of Grandpa Simpson’s stories that don’t really go anywhere. Yet I thought about it in relation to waiting to see if my tree would survive and took it as a reference from God as to how patient he is with us. The caretaker asks for another year on top of the 3 already past.


Is there something in your life you need to be patient with? Have
you struggled with an addiction, illness or problem for years. Have you been unable to give up smoking, curtail your temper or lose weight? I urge you be like the caretaker of the vineyard and persevere. Your breakthrough is coming. Your season of blessings, favour and success will arrive.


Its Spring here now and while the building next door is almost finished with all the concrete poured and digging complete, I have seen the fresh new green buds of growth of my precious tree break free. Wait just a little longer for yours and remember:


Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose hope is the LORD.
He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It fears not the heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit.
Jeremiah Chapter 17:7