By Their Fruits

Blurry picture...huh? It was intentionally left like this when I started to play with the colors, and these words that I will share came to my mind.

We were visiting my best friend who was taking care of her dad and as we admired his property and gazed at the landscape it was inevitable for us to take some pictures. My dear froggy213 really knows me and read my intentions saying: "The picture is for a hub, isn't it?"

My friend's father is an awesome, wise man. Time has not taken away the smile from his face, neither his experiences in which he shares his wise messages. His body pains will not steal from him the blessings he gives as a welcome and farewell.

We were wondering the difference from a plantain and a banana plant and my friend was giving us some information of differences between plants.

Luke 6:44 says: "Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. " The picture below is part of the land where my friend's father spent most of his days. It became the place where his sweat poured to gain a living to raise his family. Nevertheless...his wisdom came by spending so much time with nature.

I am sorry if you expected to read on the differences between the banana and plantain plant, but I have something else to share. Since you are already there reading, with the respect you deserve, I invite you to stay with these words that I am willing to keep sharing.

My friend is an amazing person. I have known her since 1977, when we met entering the University. She is still the same loving, caring and honest friend I met. Imagine 35 years of friendship and we still look up to each other. Tell me if I have not seen the fruits of her life in all those years?

Proverbs 20:11 says: "Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. " Everybody has their story of suffering. The picture up and to the right is my friend questioning her dear father about the difference between the banana and plantain tree. Even she has had a life that counts as a novel...observe the love and tenderness of the way she looks into her father's eyes (gotcha! you went to see her eyes, didn't you?).

James 2:18 says: "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do". My friend is a Mother of three grown up children, a teacher, a wife and a best friend to everybody because her heart is filled with the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ. A Christian is known by their heart!

How do we discern "evil" people from "good" people? Simply by their acts, behavior and ways of being. Those characteristics are found in Galatians 5:22 and 23 that says: " But the fruit of the Spirit is

• love,

• joy,

• peace,

• patience,

• kindness,

• goodness,

• faithfulness,

• gentleness,

• self-control;

against such things there is no law."

How wonderful would it be to know the real intentions of others! Many people disguise themselves better than our perceptions or intuitions could identify.

The first picture I posted at the beginning of this hub was blurry, than I went after another one of the fruit (an avocado) and I had another not so clear picture, but we read in 1 Corinthians 13:12: "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known."

Words of hope my friend: God is an awesome, merciful God! He will not leave us without the taste of truth.

Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, That shines brighter and brighter until the full day."

We are living on this earth with all kinds of situations, but in order to live our life in fulfillment with ourselves and with others, we should try to grow spiritually and our hearts will manifest a healthy, good living, and worthy life style.

Romans 2:13 "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

Do you want the tree of your life to have really juicy and good fruits? Read below what our loving God left us in the Bible for our own internal garden.

Your life is your own garden...you will plant what you want to harvest. God gave us free will. I wish you the best on this journey called life.

Blessings to all!

Oh, by the way... The difference between a banana and plantain plant are:

Plantains are taller and the trunk and the stems of the leaf is darker in a banana than a plantain (gotcha again).

© Maria Magdalena Ruiz O'Farrill