Fruits of the Spirit / Vine-ripened Tomato

It seems like every other parable in the bible has something to do with a garden and a gardener. This blog is about me searching for those parables in my own life, both inside and outside the garden in my backyard. It's no Eden, but every time I look out my back window I see something special, every new flower or new sprout is a victory and a miracle. Every tomato that turns red is a testament to patience and love.

It makes me wonder what God thinks as he searches the hearts of us all... what does he think of men, and the fruit that we produce? 

If our victory is in Christ, and the miracle is his ascension, we are expected to sprout like seeds in a well-tended garden. If the Holy Spirit is truly working in us then our purpose is to bear fruit in the form of Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-Control"(Galatians 5:19-23). Is it possible that some of these "fruits" are also the attributes of a delicious vine-ripened tomato? Hmmm...