Category Archives: Fruits of the Spirit

Fruits of the Spirit {self-control}

Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

Here I am, at the last of the Fruits of the Spirit.  I must admit, I’m kind of sad.  This has been a good exercise for me to be regularly searching and learning more about the Bible – learning about a topic well enough to explain it to others.  It is good.

Self-control.  This one might be the hardest to exercise on a daily basis.

Proverbs 25:28 says a person who lacks self-control is “like a city whose walls are broken through.”  Without self-control we are defenseless and open to attack.  When my walls are broken through, I am short.  … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {gentleness}

Faith, Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

Moving through the Fruits of the Spirit, we are now at Gentleness.  I’ve recently discovered Chad’s Bible Encyclopedias.  I’m so thankful for his Bible degree…

“Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently.” Galatians 6:1

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect.” 1 Peter 3:15

Babies need to be treated with gentleness, just notice next time you’re … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {goodness}

Faith, Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

In the list of Fruits of the Spirit, goodness is the one that is giving me the most trouble.  Every time I try to define it, I realize I’m instead defining one of the other fruits.  I should probably look in the Bible and see what help it can offer.

“…make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge…” 2 Peter 1:5 (NIV)

“Good” seems so relative.  What tastes good, what smells good, what looks good, what’s considered good behavior.  All of this is opinion-based.

According to 2 Peter, goodness is part of a sequence of … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {kindness}

Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

“Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up.” Proverbs 12:25

“love is kind” 1 Corinthians 13:4

When considering the Fruits of the Spirit, it seems like kindness shouldn’t be a struggle with my children, after all they are children.  It is a struggle though when they ignore your advice and then come to you when there is a problem.  It’s a struggle when they are tattling for the 82nd time today.  It’s a struggle when they are crying about the immunizations they will have to get in NINE MONTHS.  They simply aren’t rational beings, so responding … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {patience}

Fruits of the Spirit, Parenting

Ah patience.

This is the Fruit of the Spirit I pray for the most.  I need patience for another lost shoe; for grumbles about the food I just cooked; for pushing back at homework time; for selfishness; for the inability to hear my voice when the television is on.

I NEED PATIENCE.

Proverbs 15:18 – “The hot-tempered stir up dissension, but those who are patient calm a quarrel.”
Ephesians 4:2 – “be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

The Bible says through patience I can calm a quarrel.  I don’t know what your home looks like, but my children … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {peace}

Fruits of the Spirit

There are many days where peace seems elusive in our home.  I’m fairly certain that my children’s inside voices are the same volume as their outside voices, and on many occasions they are all speaking at the same time.  And when everyone is speaking, no one  is listening.

If I’m being really honest (which I usually am), I am just as guilty of robbing our home of peace.  I am short-tempered, sharp-tongued, and short-fused.  I promise you though I’m working on these things, especially when it comes to my children.

Luckily, the Bible doesn’t just list peace as one of … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {joy}

Fruits of the Spirit

The second of the Fruits of the Spirit is Joy.  There is much joy to be found in parenting: baby smiles, the wonderful list of “firsts”, belly laughs, seeing children make the right choice, hearing them sing, their excitement over succeeding… far too many to list.

There are also experiences in parenting that are not very joyful: feeling like nothing more than a referee and maid, seeing your children hurt, seeing them hurt others, the defiance that comes with learning independence, that one same battle that you seem doomed to fight for the remainder of your existence… far too many … Read the rest

Fruits of the Spirit {love}

Fruits of the Spirit

Here’s my first stab at a series on my blog.  I’ve written before about how I’m trying to bring the fruits of the Spirit into my parenting, and I thought I’d take a stab at writing a post on each one of the fruits.

So the first one is love.  It may seem surprising, but this one can get lost sometimes in parenting.  I get wrapped up in teaching them and setting a good example and coming up with a consequence and finding the right words and…and…and… all of it.  Most of the time they just need me to love … Read the rest

Pass the Fruit

Fruits of the Spirit

I’ve been working with my kids on the Fruits of the Spirit, using them as a teaching tool.  I want my children to be followers of Christ who regularly display these fruits.  Then I remembered that kids learn best by seeing it modeled.  Right.

I’ve been working in myself on the Fruits of the Spirit, and it turns out these are nine attributes I need a LOT of as a mom.  When I find myself tired, frustrated, at a loss, running on empty, or plain old not feeling it, I remember the Fruits of the Spirit.  I close my … Read the rest

The Fruits of the Spirit (8 year-old style)

Fruits of the Spirit

Eli’s violence towards his sisters has been increasing in frequency as of late, so today I sat him down with his Bible for a little lesson.  This is not a lesson I can take credit for, I learned it from my friend Sheri and am thankful for it!

I opened his Bible to Galatians 5:22 and had him read the Fruits of the Spirit.  I then wrote those on a piece of paper and had him write what he thinks each one means.  Here is what he came up with:

Joy – having fun
Patience – waiting
Goodness – being … Read the rest