Guarding the Fruit

The robin sits on the framework of my garden and tilts his head. I can almost hear him. “Are those tomatoes ripe enough for me to peck?” A squirrel barks at me from the nearby tree, claiming the tomatoes as his own. I regret to inform you, friend robin and mister squirrel, these tomatoes are not for you!

I have put up a fence to protect my plants from rabbits, pets and errant children, but a fence won’t stop a bird or a squirrel. I need bird netting. Without the bird netting, the robins peck the ripening tomatoes, encouraging bugs to swarm the gooey innards, which the birds devour. Squirrels will take the entire tomato from the vine and horde it away with their nuts.

Bird netting is a thin mesh of material that drapes over the plants. Nick erected the poles around the garden as a support for the netting, so it wouldn’t become entangled in the leaves. (Plus, he liked to build things!) Clipped securely to the fencing, the netting allows access only to insects. To tend to the plants, I have to unclip the netting, but it is worth the effort to protect the fruit. Just in case I have some gaps, I have repellant flowers planted among the tomatoes.

Is this overkill? Do I really need to go to all this effort? Yes! I have gardened for 30 years and lost countless tomatoes to birds and squirrels. What a waste to pour so much time and effort into growing them, only to lose out at the end and not be able to reap the benefits.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Ephesians 6:13.

 Is it overkill to be constantly on guard against forces that would take our fruit from us? I don’t think so. Even if the robins and squirrels aren’t “evil,” I don’t want them to ruin my fruit. I don’t want my peace and kindness destroyed by slanderous political rhetoric from either party. I don’t want my joy and generosity ruined by endless comparisons on social media. I don’t want my self-control challenged by abundant opportunities for self-indulgence.

Putting up the bird netting is not an effortless task. Almost invisible, the netting catches on the fencing, the poles, the plants, the buttons on my shirt. I need to make sure I clip the netting tightly to the fence, but not so much as to limit my access to the tomatoes. There’s a balance there that requires constant reassessment. It takes effort, but if it protects my tomatoes…

Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Hebrews 12:11.

Am I spending this much time and effort, this constant reassessment, protecting my relationship with God, balancing the calls on my time with His call? I can only pray for the strength to do so. Because I am encouraging the growth of His fruit in my life, His fruit for His purposes. My tomatoes are not being grown for the robins and squirrels, and His fruit is not being grown to win accolades from others. Just as I must guard my tomatoes, I must guard my heart, out of which His fruit grows. I do this by spending time in prayer and communion with God, by reading and studying His Word, and by putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 5:14-17).

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7.

How sad it would be to lose what fruit God has grown in us because we did not make the effort to protect it. So while social expectation may tilt its head at me, wondering if I’ll play its game, and worldly ways may bark at me, trying to claim my affections, I will boldly inform them to keep out of my garden.

Betsy