Welcome to my fridge

Jaymee Glenn-Burns

10/25/2017

Fruit on the fridge

22 …the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. — Galatians 5:22-23 (NRSV)

Welcome to my fridge. Because I need frequent reminders of the gifts God has given and the life to which God calls me, I force myself to look at these good words every day.

They serve as prayer prompts that guide me toward gratitude.  A list of nine words, even such lovely words as these, can overwhelm me.  Three is much more manageable, which increases the likelihood that I will actually name the gifts.

Today’s list:

  • the kindness of the barista who greets me on a grumpy day with a warm smile and generous words
  • the courageous love demonstrated by a mother who embraces her LGBTQ child
  • the patient persistence of diplomats, mediators, teachers, and others who work tirelessly for peace in a too-violent world.

These  gifts nudge me in the direction of fruitful discipleship.  They display a picture of faithful living that inspires me to behave better.  I thank God for the role models and mentors who shape my life every day, and I invite you to think about those people who demonstrate what it means to live faithfully and fruitfully.   What are your three good things for today?