The Scarred Stem

In no way am I a serious vegetable gardener. Yet I've made the tomato plants an annual summer project. Thanks to our dependable water well, even in the dryness of the past few months, the little tomato vines have flourished and provided Mother and I a tasty harvest.

Success of the Damaged Tomato Stem

        Again this summer, I have grown tomato plants in the beds on each side of the old cellar. I got them in the ground late but experienced productivity with each little plant. However, the most productive, healthy-appearing tomato vine seems to have a flaw – near the base of its stem.

The Scarred Base of the Tomato
 Stem. (Unused electric fence 
posts served as stakes this year.)

         When I noticed the horrible lesions near the base of its stem, I became concerned. It looked like it had been struck with a hoe, but not trusting the cats, I had put tomato cages over each plant the afternoon I planted them. Knowing the stem provides stability for the plant as it grows, I have researched unsuccessfully, because the plant keeps thriving.

         Its leaves remain a rich, dark green and healthy-looking. The scarred stem’s base hasn’t hampered the production of this tomato vine as it flourishes even into the fall.

Recent photo of the tomatoes on the
scarred stem tomato vine.

       After pondering its success, I researched a bit about tomatoes and became fascinated about the normal depth of the roots of a tomato plant. My research revealed that tomato plant roots can be 18-24 inches deep. That meant almost as much of the scarred stem plant was unseen as was visible above the ground! Maybe the roots hold the secret to this little vine’s substantial yield.

       As I thought about the roots, the scarred stem, and the healthy, productive tomato plant, a verse about being “rooted” came to mind. The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers at Colosse these words, So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as LORD, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

The scarred stem provided support and
nourishment from the roots to produce
this healthy plant.

            We receive Jesus as Lord (boss) by faith in His blood’s power to cleanse us from our sin. In turn, He gives us the Holy Spirit who empowers us to live daily in obedience to Him. Paul told the young believers they were rooted and built up in Him, just as the tomato plant was rooted and growing.

Sometimes I feel weak in faith and have to pray, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” The scarred stem looks like it might not be strong enough to sustain the robust plant. Even though we feel as though we cannot live and do what God  is leading us to do, we know He strengthens our faith.

The apostle reminds the young Colossian Christians how they were strengthened in the faith as they were taught. We have such an advantage over the believers in the ancient city of Colosse. They only had access to the Old Testament scriptures. We have God-inspired letters by Paul, by Peter, and other apostles plus the four gospels recording Jesus’ time here on earth. 

We “overflow with thankfulness” each day as we read the encouragement from His Word; thankfulness abounds when someone observes the fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) appearing in a life because the person has yielded a God-submitted will for His use.          

Our lives will be used by God for His work here on earth when we spend time with Him so our "roots" draw up the living water which is Jesus (Read John 4:13-14). Our "roots" receive nourishment from the Holy Scripture inspired by God Himself. In this way, we grow, produce, and overflow with thankfulness to Him, the only source of our strength.

As I did a quick visual check of the dozen tomato plants, all producing, my eyes lingered on the scarred stem plant. Immediately, the final nine words of Paul's powerful verse in 2 Corinthians 12:10 came strongly into my thoughts. It reads: Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. In the previous verse, God had promised Paul that His strength would be made perfect in Paul's weakness. As followers of Jesus, our weaknesses allow God's strength to be on full display and He gets the glory. There isn't a better way to live life.