What do you think “team” and “fruit” have in common? The answer might surprise you!
Recently, I told my mom that she gave me the first 18 years of my life and I would be honored to give her back the last 18 years of her life. I also mentioned that if she lived past 95, she was on her own! Ha – I am joking of course! Parents raising kids and kids taking care of parents; each requires a certain amount of teamwork. The results, or fruits if you will, offer the potential for wonderful spiritual growth.
As a child in my Mother’s care, I knew that she loved me unconditionally. When making decisions, I looked to her for approval. Now that she is aging, I find our relationship is more and more challenging for both of us. I pray that she looks to me for the guidance and wisdom I learned from her. There are decisions that must be made that we never expected to make; expenses that we never thought we would encounter … it all piles up on us. We make a wonderful team, but we couldn’t do it without our coach and playbook.
Our coach is our Lord and Savior, our playbook is the Bible. Sometimes we make things too difficult. We should be confident in the knowledge that he carries us in the palm of His hand. However, when we find ourselves in the thick of the game, we may easily falter. It is both wise and necessary to have a game plan. I would encourage you to plan for whatever life may send your way. More importantly, I hope you always know in your heart that all things work together for His good. You can trust Him whatever the outcome.
Where does “fruit” fit in this game? The attributes our family acquired on our journey reminds me of the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). I can look back and see how God developed (and continues to cultivate) these characteristics in us through our life experiences.
We have been blessed to share both good times and difficult ones. Our team is strong in Jesus, and He is working to develop Christian values (fruits) in our lives through the difficulties. Praise God for His never-ending guidance and grace as we grow to be more like our Savior.
Wendy Griffin
Lean into Jesus Ministries
#wendygriffinblogs