Well, it's been awhile. ;) My absence was not intentional and I have had some thoughts rolling around in my head for a little while now, but I'm just now making the time to sit down and get them out, which always makes me feel better! For the writers reading this, you know what I mean!
So I have been teaching my almost 3-year-old daughter about the fruit of the Spirit and what they mean. Especially self-control. ;) We have been discussing them for several weeks and the other day when we were in line at Sam's, she just couldn't understand why we had to wait in line. She was hungry and more than ready to go. Thus, began a discussion of patience and what it means to be patient. It means that we wait, but not only wait, to wait with gentleness and joy (had to throw in a couple more fruits while I was at it) and not with a begrudging spirit. I asked her what it meant to have fruit of the Spirit. I said as I held up my right arm, "Does that mean that Mommy has bananas hanging from her arms?" She, of course laughed and said, "No, that's silly, Mommy!" As I pointed to the back of my ear, I asked her, "Does it mean I have grapes growing behind my ears?!" Another laugh ensued and then she replied ever so sweetly, "Mommy, it means you have fruit in your heart!" I had never explained that concept to her before, but her precious little heart was beginning to understand what it meant to have a pure heart filled with good things. Tears welled up in my eyes as I told her that, yes, that's exactly what having fruit of the Spirit means.
I was praying a few days later asking the Lord for wisdom, as I do daily, on how to shape these precious souls that the Lord has blessed me with. I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that they will model the behavior that they see displayed in my life. If I am impatient, they will be impatient. If I'm not gentle in my approach with them, they will not learn to be gentle in their approach with others. It is an overwhelming responsibility at times to be the one they look to on a daily basis for an example of Jesus, which is why it is so crucial for me to spend time daily imploring the Lord for wisdom and asking Him to mold me into who He wants me to be as a mother. I must realize that I can do nothing apart from the Lord and His guidance and constantly (sometimes hourly) seek His direction. I am certainly still learning this lesson!
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control...if we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." Galatians 5:22-25
Until next time...
What kind of fruit are you bearing and who is imitating that fruit because of your example?
