The Tiniest Peach

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

When we bought our home in San Antonio 5 years ago, there was a peach tree in the front side yard. It takes effort to care for this tree in our drought-prone climate, as it is not close to the house or to a frequently-used water faucet. In fact, the tree has died, twice. On its third incarnation, our daughter Erin claimed it as her own and began to take personal responsibility for its care. At times, she needed to be reminded to water it, and at times she left the water running as she got distracted with other things. But her individualized care for this fragile tree finally yielded fruit - one, lone, tiny peach (pictured above in Erin's hand). She picked the peach yesterday and proudly brought the fruit of her labor inside, asking who wanted to eat it. I quickly volunteered. I took one small bite and my mouth was FILLED with the sweetest, best-tasting peach I had ever eaten! My reaction was so great that each of the girls wanted to try it, and we took turns sharing the tiniest bites from the tiniest peach. We all agreed that there had never been a finer peach. Its taste stayed with me for a long time.

How like this peach is the fruit of the Holy Spirit! When we regularly water the tree God planted within us, it yields sweet fruit - fruit that others want to taste, fruit that we cannot keep from sharing, fruit that brings lasting results. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control spill out, enriching and enhancing the lives around us. Let's wash our lives with the water of the Word of God today and fill our homes with the sweetness of the fruit of the Holy Spirit!