Live the fruit today

My youngest daughter has loved being an "only child" this school year. She has the whole bathroom to herself and she has access to the all the bedrooms upstairs. She misses her sisters but she is really loving the attention and the freedom. Danny and I have loved getting the chance to see a different side of her. We have the blessing of having that one on one time with her. It has been different but wonderful.


With all of that one on one time, she has seen us differently too. Lately she has been singing us the "Fruit of the Spirit" song when we need a little extra patience or kindness or gentleness in a situation. She usually nails it at just the right time. Gotta love that childlike perception. From the mouth of babes. Even the teenage versions.


She reminded me just the other day, through her little song, that I was not being patient. And she was right. She knows me. She watches me. Even if no one else heard what I was saying or saw how I was responding, she did. Our children know.


So today I am being intentional about her song. I want to live out the fruit. It comes from the Spirit. Not from my own strength. But I do have to be intentional about it. Intentional about loving well. Considering it all joy. Resting in the peace. Making sure that I am patient and kind and good to those around me. I want to let my husband, my children, my friends and those I encounter today see that I am faithful. I want to interact with others with gentleness. I want to respond today with self-control not out of emotion or instinct. That kind of fruit does not come natural to me. I have to have help and rely on that Help to lead me.


Sing the song with me today. Walk in the Spirit.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is 

love, joy, peace, 

patience, kindness, goodness,

 faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Against such things there is no law." 

Galatians 5:22-23