A boy went by a farmer’s garden to buy some tomatoes for his mother. Pointing at a ripe, red tomato, he asked the farmer, “How much is this one?”
The farmer said, “The ripe ones are $1 each.”
“And how much are the green ones that aren’t yet ripe?” asked the boy.
“Those are just ten cents,” said the farmer.
“Okay, I’ll have two of the green ones,” said the boy, as he handed the man 20 cents. Then the boy started to walk away.
“But what about your tomatoes?” asked the farmer.
The boy said, “I’ll come back and pick them up in a few days, after they turn red.”
Lesson: Pay the price of recovery today, then enjoy the benefits tomorrow.
Recovery Step: There is a direct link between sowing your blessings today, then reaping them tomorrow (Galatians 6:7). So get started. Sow a seed.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
