Fruit

IT IS SUGGESTED THAT WE CONSUME 2-4 SERVINGS OF FRUIT EACH DAY TO MAINTAIN A HEALTHY AND BALANCED DIET. 

OUR HOUSEHOLD LOVES FRUIT, AND WHILE MUCH OF OUR PRODUCE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR COMES FROM SUPER TARGET THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I FEEL THE NEED TO UPGRADE OUR PRODUCE AND THE KIDS AND I HEAD TO BRENNAN'S. (EVEN BETTER, IS WHEN WE ARE ABLE TO PURCHASE BEAUTIFUL FRESH PRODUCE FROM THE FARMER'S MARKET...OH SPRING AND SUMMER WILL YOU EVER ARRIVE?)  WITH A MONTHLY BUDGET FOR GROCERIES THAT I ALREADY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME MAINTAINING, A TRIP TO BRENNAN'S IS A TREAT.  THE CHILDREN AND I LOVE STROLLING DOWN EACH AISLE, STOPPING TO SAMPLE EACH FRUIT (AND BELIEVE ME, WE STOP AT EVERY FRUIT, TO SATISFY THE APPARENTLY RAVENOUS HUNGER OF MY TWO-FRUIT-CONSUMING-TODDLERS). IT IS LITERALLY A SWEET TIME, AS WE TALK ABOUT THE FRUIT AND SELECT WHAT PRODUCE WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE HOME. (THEREIN LIES THE DIFFICULTY, AS WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE ALL OF THEIR JUICY PRODUCE HOME.  WHEN THEY BOAST "CHIN-DRIPPIN' PEACHES" OR "JUICIEST ORANGES IN TOWN" THEY ARE NOT LYIN'.)  THE STAFF IS GENEROUS AND KIND, AND FIND PLEASURE IN WATCHING THE CHILDREN SQUEAL WITH DELIGHT AS THEY TASTE THE FRUIT.  ALL IN ALL, A TRIP TO BRENNAN'S ALWAYS GUARANTEES SATISFACTION, ENJOYMENT, SMILES AND THE PROMISE OF SWEET AND DELICIOUS FRUIT.

THIS PAST WEEK WHILE READING GALATIANS, I CAME ACROSS A VERSE THAT I HAVE KNOWN SINCE CHILDHOOD. 

"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

I MIGHT HAVE BREEZED OVER IT, AS I (REGRETFULLY) DO WITH SO MANY VERSES THAT I AM FAMILIAR WITH, BUT THIS PARTICULAR MORNING I PAUSED, ALLOWING THE VERSE TO RATTLE MY EARLY MORNING BRAIN AND SOFTEN MY HEART.  SO OFTEN I HAVE TREATED THIS VERSE LIKE A TRIP TO BRENNAN'S.  I HAVE SKIMMED OVER EACH FRUIT, SELECTING ONLY THOSE WHICH I COULD AFFORD TO ACT OUT IN MY DAILY LIFE, NOT CHOOSING THEM ALL FOR IT WOULD BE TOO COSTLY, REQUIRE TOO MUCH.   UNLIKE A TRIP TO  BRENNAN'S, THIS VERSE DOES NOT PROVIDE ME THE LUXURY OF CHOOSING.  IT STATES SIMPLY THAT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. AND, WHAT A LIST THAT IS. 

AND SO, LIKE I WOULD DO WITH ANY GOOD LIST, I GOT OUT CARD STOCK, WROTE DOWN EACH FRUIT AND PUT IT ON MY FRIDGE (WITH THE SWEETEST LITTLE PEAR BOTTLE CAP MAGNET).  THIS LIST WILL SERVE AS A REMINDER, AS DO ALL MY OTHER LISTS, OF WHAT IS ESSENTIAL, NEEDED, A TOP PRIORITY. 

MY EYES OFTEN GO TO THE CARD EACH DAY, AS I SEEK TO HONOR THE LORD WITH MY CHOICES, AND SO OFTEN FAIL TO EMULATE THE FRUITS OF THE SPIRIT.  IN SPITE OF MY FAILED EFFORTS, THE VERSE CONTINUES TO FLOOD MY HEART AND MIND AS I INTERACT WITH MY CHILDREN (THE COMBINATION OF A 3 YEAR OLD AND 16 MOS OLD CAN BRUISE OR EVEN SQUASH THE RIPEST OF MY FRUITS), SPEAK WITH MY HUSBAND, AND GO ABOUT MY DAILY TASKS.  THANKFULLY, I NEED NOT RELY ON MY OWN STRENGTH AS I SEEK TO LIVE OUT MY DAILY 9 SERVINGS OF FRUIT.  "So do no fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10