The Night the Sap Froze
In the winter of 1894, Florida was the citrus crown of the world. Families had poured their life savings into groves that stretched as far as the eye could see. But on December 29th, the temperature plummeted. The “Great Freeze” didn’t just take the fruit; it stayed cold so long that the sap inside the trees froze, expanding until the trunks of massive, decades-old trees literally split wide open with the sound of a gunshot.
By February of 1895, a second freeze hit. Many growers simply walked away. They saw the black, dead wood and believed the story was over. But a few stayed. They didn’t just see dead trees; they saw an opportunity to rebuild differently. They learned to diversify. They moved further south. They developed the very irrigation and protection techniques that our Plant City growers used just weeks ago to save what little they could. That “death” in 1895 forced a resilience into the Florida farmer that defines us to this day.
The Current Event: The 2026 Strawberry Festival
This week, as the rides are assembled and the “Still Growing” banners are hung for the 2026 Strawberry Festival, the reality is stark. With over $300 million in losses across the state due to this month’s freeze, many of our neighbors are walking into this festival with a heavy heart. It is hard to eat shortcake when you know the farmer next door is wondering if he can pay his notes this year.
The theme “Still Growing” isn’t just a marketing slogan this year—it’s a confession of faith. It’s an acknowledgment that while the fruit may be gone, the Root is still alive.
The Scripture: The Vinedresser’s Hand
Let us look at the words of our Lord in the Modern English Version:
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that bears no fruit He takes away. And every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” — John 15:1-2 (MEV)
The Application: When the Canopy Falls
In agriculture, pruning feels like an attack. In our personal lives, we often build “canopies”—our careers, our reputations, our busy schedules. These things aren’t necessarily bad, but they create a lot of “noise.” Sometimes, we can’t see the forest for the trees because our own success has blocked our view of the Savior.
When a “freeze” hits—be it a financial loss, a broken relationship, or a health crisis—the canopy falls. Suddenly, we are at the bottom. But there is a hidden mercy in the cold:
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Clarity at the Bottom: It is often only when we are flat on our backs that we stop looking at our own hands and start looking up. When the “noise” of a busy harvest is silenced by a freeze, the path God has been trying to show us becomes visible.
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The Path Was Always There: That new direction, that deeper calling, or that need for repentance wasn’t created by the crisis—it was revealed by it. The freeze didn’t take away your purpose; it took away the distractions hiding it.
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Still Growing: Growth often happens underground during the winter. You might not see the berries yet, but if you are trusting Him, your roots are going deeper than they ever could in the easy sun of a warm spring.
As we walk the festival grounds this week, let’s pray for our farmers. But let’s also pray for ourselves. If you feel like you’ve hit bottom, look up. The path the Lord has for you is finally clear.
