Did you know that there are over 10,000 specific varieties of tomatoes worldwide?

Because there are so many, tomatoes are grouped based on size, shape and usage. The main groups are cherry, grape, beefsteak, plum/roma, globe/slicers and heirloom. 

I grow Cherokee Purples, an heirloom tomato from seed and love seeing the bright green deepen into a burgundy red in July and August. Sometimes the local wildlife manages to do a taste test on a ripe tomato before I spot it. Therefore, I anticipate a few to be sampled each season. This year one of my Cherokee Purples decided to speak its mind, but it wasn’t the conversation I expected. 

A Conversation with a Tomato

Disclaimer: This piece is fictional. I may talk to my tomatoes, but they certainly do not talk back to me…not yet.

I left it on the vine too long. Some critter snacked on one of my beautiful Cherokee Purple tomatoes before I could pick it. By the time I brought it into the kitchen, the open flesh wound showed signs of serious rot. And the tomato had something to say about it. 

T – “You know what looks like this?”

Me – “What? This rotten spot?”

T – Yeah...your unforgiveness.”

Me – “My what....Really?”

T – “Yes. It’s an affront to him.”

Me – “An affront? You mean my unforgiveness is an insult to Father God? To Abba?”

T – “Especially so in your case because you know Abba and His Word. You know that he will forgive you when…”

Me – “Okay, okay. I keep putting it off. I know what I need to do.”

T –“You should and I want to hear you pray it…out loud.”

Me – “You’re very bossy for someone who’s going to end up in the garbage disposal.”

T – “Quit stalling. And make sure you’ve got the right attitude before you pray. Do a heart check first.”

Me – “Alright.” I looked at that rotting bite on the tomato and thought about the words that bit into my heart. And the angry ones I shot back. This festering wound of unforgiveness will never heal until I have an honest conversation with Abba.

“I’m ready… My Father in Heaven. I know that You love me. It’s because of your love and forgiveness that I can have this conversation with You. I was wrong to speak those words in anger to hurt them as deeply as they hurt me. I ask for your forgiveness, and I need to…No, I will ask for their forgiveness. Thank You and Amen.”

T – “Well done. Now slice off my rotten part” I hesitated with the knife in my hand. “Go on. I’ll be fine.” When the decaying piece slid onto the cutting board, what remained was spotless flesh.

T – “That’s what you now look like to Abba. Clean. New. Beautiful.”

Me – “Thank you. The resentment and anger I held onto was the weight of unforgiveness in my heart. This is a relief knowing that I’m now in a good place with Abba and that my heart is right before him. Should I expect any more conversations like these with my tomatoes?”

T – “No. I just happen to have the rotten spot in the right place at the right time. Get it?”

Me – “Got it. Don’t try out for Comedy Night.”

T – “I tried, but I want you to know that if that deer hadn’t taken a chunk out of me, I would have been the best looking thing in your salad. Perfection and beauty don't need ranch dressing.

Me – “Such a saucy tomato.”

…bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you do also.

Colossians 3:13 WEB (World English Bible)