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

The Message: “But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.”

TPT: “But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions: joy that overflows, peace that subdues, patience that endures, kindness in action, a life full of virtue, faith that prevails, gentleness of heart, and strength of spirit. Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.“

Dear Moms, 

I am writing this a couple of days after I got home from a short trip. As a mom, leaving is the worst. Not only is there the emotion of it, but there are also so many details that go into planning for it! Then there is the transition of returning home. Usually, it requires a little bit of time to kind of get things “back on track” once you get back. All in all, it can be a lot to manage. On top of all of this is the lack of sleep, etc. that often occur (both to those traveling and those at home). So it is no surprise that people can sometimes get a little out of sorts during these times, and this time—it was me. 

My trip went well and the kids were well cared for I was gone (my husband and two oldest kids were with me). I was looking forward to getting home and being with all the kiddos again, but once I was I found myself not quite myself. I found myself getting more easily agitated. I knew that I was wrong, but I still had a hard time getting out of it. 

Now, there are a lot of possible reasons for why I was feeling like this. And, I’m sure they all contributed to this! But, the main problem was something else entirely. It was my lack of connection spiritually.

I spent years religiously trying to grow in the fruit of the Spirit by my own power. It doesn’t work—at least not long term. I have tried changing schedules and systems to keep things orderly and running well. This usually works for a while! As long as everything is going according to plan, there is peace and joy. The problem is when something stops working. When a child (or husband😉) doesn’t cooperate with the plan. When an illness or other uncontrollable event occurs. Then the peace goes away. Frustration mounts. Fruit displayed in our lives that we have grown by our own power is only good while our lives stay under control. When that control is disrupted—yikes! Let’s just say, it does not bring out our best. 

But, here is the good news: The fruit of the Spirit is just that—fruit produced by the Holy Spirit. He creates it. (The Lord is our gardener!) This is amazing news because it is not determined by our circumstances or our own strength. Instead, it comes though our connection with Him! When I am connected to Him my priorities and values change—they become heavenly in nature. Dirty dishes or sick kids, or other “not according to plan” moments don’t phase me. (Well, maybe sometimes for a moment.😅) 

So, the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, impatient, generally “out of sorts” I want to encourage you: it isn’t because of the dishes. Or the mouthy or crying kid. It isn’t because of your spouse or your job. Sure, these may be contributing factors. There may even be adjustments that need to be made. But, you should start by reconnecting your heart with the Father’s and inviting the Holy Spirit into your moment. If you allow Him room to produce the fruit of heaven in you, He will! 

Being a mom isn’t easy. It is demanding and there are ample opportunities for our worst to be brought out of us. But, I guarantee that the Lord is with you! He loves you and is so proud of you. Not only is He cheering you on, but He is with you in it. Comforting and empowering you to be a mom in His image, creating a life and home full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Action Step: Stop and take a deep breath—in and out. Again. And again. As you do, invite the Holy Spirit to fill you. This may sound like a silly exercise, but it’s amazing how impactful slowing down and connecting our heart to His is! When you do this regularly, you will find His fruit growing in your life.*

*I also encourage time in the Word and prayer, too!