Tamarra Berries
Berries come in an awesome variety. Everyone, of course has their preference. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries, dewberries, and more. I have recently taken up residence at the Barry Farm in Needville, Texas, and among other things, the Barry Farm grows Blackberries. I have been enlisted to help pick berries, because when the berries come into season all available hands are needed. I am a novice berry picker and was therefore given a crash course in how to pick blackberries that are marketable. The basic principle behind picking blackberries is that they must be black (duh). Any reddish hue will make the blackberry taste sour and a little bitter. So, a keen eye and gentle fingers are needed to pick the perfect blackberry. It sounds way easier than it turns out to be in reality.
There are elements to deal with; heat and humidity mostly. There are thorns on the bushes, leaves that block line of sight, bugs, snakes and did I mention the heat and humidity? All of this contributes to picking what I have come to call Tamarra Berries. Blackberries, when picked at the peak of ripeness are sweet and juicy. But, picked just one day early and they are sour and bitter. If picked that way, they cannot be sold to customers, so are just thrown out - tamarra berries for sure. When I pick a berry a day too soon, I have mistaken tomorrow's berry for today's berry. Today's berries are sweet, tomorrow's are always bitter and sour. It is a mistake that I have made often as I am learning to pick the right berry on the right day.
So my lesson is, don't pick tomorrow's berries today. I'm thinking this lesson applies to more than just blackberries. It may even apply to our lives as we face each new day. We have much to accomplish with each day given to us, yet we can introduce sourness and bitterness when we allow tamarra berries to get into our today. Most difficulties in our lives need just a little more time to work out than we like to give them, so we pick them too early, and end up with bitter sour tamarra berries. Jesus put it this way: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
If you want a little more sweetness in your day, don't pick tomorrow's berries today!
There are elements to deal with; heat and humidity mostly. There are thorns on the bushes, leaves that block line of sight, bugs, snakes and did I mention the heat and humidity? All of this contributes to picking what I have come to call Tamarra Berries. Blackberries, when picked at the peak of ripeness are sweet and juicy. But, picked just one day early and they are sour and bitter. If picked that way, they cannot be sold to customers, so are just thrown out - tamarra berries for sure. When I pick a berry a day too soon, I have mistaken tomorrow's berry for today's berry. Today's berries are sweet, tomorrow's are always bitter and sour. It is a mistake that I have made often as I am learning to pick the right berry on the right day.So my lesson is, don't pick tomorrow's berries today. I'm thinking this lesson applies to more than just blackberries. It may even apply to our lives as we face each new day. We have much to accomplish with each day given to us, yet we can introduce sourness and bitterness when we allow tamarra berries to get into our today. Most difficulties in our lives need just a little more time to work out than we like to give them, so we pick them too early, and end up with bitter sour tamarra berries. Jesus put it this way: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34
If you want a little more sweetness in your day, don't pick tomorrow's berries today!
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