Fruit!

"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."*

I like eating fruit! I have some very fond memories of enjoying fruit; Jackfruit, Guava, Pinapple, Banana, Passionfruit, Pawpaw, Mango, Apple, Nectarine, Mandarine, Watermellon, Strawberry, Peach. I could go on and on and on :)

It's great when you have good fruit, and quite bad when you have bad fruit. I remember biting into a Guava, and then looking in and seeing half a little worm... and knowing the other half I had just swallowe!!


Fruit also used figuratively, 'bareing fruit' or 'producing fruit' are used to understand offspring (e.g. be fruitful and increase in number**) or even a product (e.g. you will eat the fruit of your labor***).

Today, I became a godmother! My goddaughter is adorable and strongwilled, as the youngest of three she has to be! It's a task I want to take very seriously, and do well -with God's help. I want to encourage and support her as she grows up, and I hope to be an example of godly living.

One of the things I hope to encourage and share my goddaughter with are the fruits of the Spirit. There is no legal obligation in being a godmother, nor is there any law that can ensure kindness, love, peace, joy, gentleness, faithfulness, goodness, patience, or self-control. Yet they are admirable character traits, which are really hard to cultivate without the proper watering and fertilizer!

In order for her to know of and think about these fruits often I have handmade her a quilt. With each 'ftruit' there is a picture. (it's not finished yet! But it will be finished by... May? With God's help!)

Self-control= cupcakes. Peace= a dove. Kindness= sharing an umbrella in the rain. Patience= waiting for flowers to grow and blossom. Gentleness= how to treat pets. Love= hearts. Faithfulness= adult and child walking along a path. Goodness= fruit. Joy= people dancing.

"By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."**

And hopefully, she and I, and any others seeking to grow in the fruits of the Spirit will be recognised by them. Bearing good fruit, sharing happiness and satisfaction with others, rather than leaving a sick and sinking feeling. I hope you strive to grow in the fruits of the Spirit too!

*Galatians 5:22-23 
**Genesis 1:22 
***Psalm 128:2

**Matthew 7:16-18