Fruit

I’ve been having to work on a few things these past few months, areas in my life that need improving. I am not only trying to get healthier physically, but I am also trying to improve my spiritual and emotional health. I am cultivating spiritual fruit. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23

I am working to grow self-control in more than a few areas of my life. It is not easy! But when I have little successes, like not snacking between meals for a few days and taking the stairs instead of the elevator in hotels, I am encouraged to keep trying. Exercise and diet are only two areas where I need more self-control. Entertaining negative thoughts, being critical, talking too much at wrong times…I could go on, but I won’t. I can’t fix everything at once, but I can improve step by step, one day at a time.

Gentleness has never been one of my strong suits. But I am growing in that as well. When I mess up, I try to apologize and try again. I messed up big time about five weeks ago. I hurt someone. I didn’t mean to, but I did. I was not gentle in the way I spoke. I made amends by apologizing and asking forgiveness. Though it is a long, slow process, I am working on being more gentle in my speech.

Those are two pieces of fruit I’m cultivating. 

Are you growing any fruit in your life?

Fruit of the Spirit

A to Z Challenge, AtoZChallenge, Bible, Christianity, Fruit of the Spirit, Fruit Self Improvement, Scripture


KathleenBDuncan

I write about my life, my journey, my family, and my faith. I am wife to one, mom to seven with one in heaven, and grandmother to many. I am also full-time caregiver to my stepmom E who suffers from dementia due to Alzheimer’s. In my spare time I like to read, travel, crochet, bike, and play with our black pug Molly.

Comments (11)

  • Lovely post Kathleen! Thanks for sharing. We all need to cultivate the fruits 🙂
    I have the tendency to talk too much at the wrong time too, especially when I get nervous. Then I feel rather upset myself, but then the Holy Spirit nudges me with a gentle conviction.

    • Oh, my mouth!

      I have come to realize that most people do not want to hear what I have to say. It’s true! Most people want to hear only what they themselves have to say.

      And I am one of them at times.

      If I can learn to be quiet and listen to others instead of talking so dang much, I will learn wonderful things! Plus, I’m more likely to stay out of trouble!

      Praying we can both do better today.

  • I love this scripture verse, thank you for sharing. I am going to use your graphic for a topic I will write on FB. Self-control is so hard and I find myself continuing to lean hard into God asking for strength. It is a muscle we need to build. Know you are not alone! Keep on, keeping on! You are surrounded by love! You are fruit to me and so many others! Love and hugs:)

    • Thanks Susan. As I said in another comment, I wish these were listed as gifts instead of fruit! But growing in the Fruit of the Spirit is worth the work! God new which things needed to be gifts and which we need to work for.

  • You are so right in saying that it isn’t easy. My own biggest challenge is self-control. . . . especially when it comes to food. I’m a stay-at-home mom, so I don’t have a problem making healthy meals. In my house the *meals* we have are always healthy. But it’s the junk between the meals that really get me. . . all the stuff I sneak into my diet, especially when the kids are at school and hubby is at work. And wine in the evening–that always gets me, too.

    I could go on. There are really oh-so-many things I need to work on. But I do try, I think. And I’m thankful that God and others in my life who love me are willing to give me so much grace.

    • On our last trip, my stomach was bothering me. I’ve had issues with Acid Reflux, so I had to watch my diet carefully. I’m trying to avoid the meds because of the side effects.

      Anyway, because I HAD to watch my diet for those three weeks – no chocolate, no sugary foods, no alcohol, no tomatoes, no soda, small meals – I got into good habits. I decided this time to keep them up even after I felt better.

      It is very hard! We want to reward ourselves with treats. I’m trying to find new rewards instead food treats. Again, this is not easy, but so worth the work!

      Hang in there! Eating healthy at home is a huge part. As for between snacking, we can choose an apple instead of a cookie.

      • You totally nailed it–food for rewards. I am **so** bad at that. I don’t give my kids food for rewards, but I do it for myself all the time. “If I finish this project, I can have a piece of chocolate.” I have *got* to stop doing that.

    • I wish these were listed as Gifts of the Spirit instead of Fruit, then we would just receive them! No work, no training, no digging in our personal dirt to get the junk/weeds out. Growing fruit is so much harder than receiving gifts! But we can do this with God’s help!

      • Kathleen, I am so glad as we grow older and the cares of the world don’t trouble us as much, we are blessed that we can take the time to get the weeds out so that when we meet our Lord, we can be full prepared.
        Thanks for sharing !

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