More Than Just a Banana

I have been teaching on the Fruits of the Spirit (LOVE, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) in our Elementary Kids Class. As I prepare for each lesson and just spend some time thinking and praying about having the Fruits of the Spirit, I keep coming back to one concept. It seems as if there is a theme in my thought pattern this year (and really over the past few years). It is in regard to LOVE. Not a lovey-dovey feeling for someone, but true love for others as Christ loves us.

The first Fruit is LOVE. The most common passage used when teaching on LOVE is 1 Corinthians 13. The very first sentence (verse 4) says LOVE is patient, LOVE is kind, which both are yet another FRUIT of the Spirit. It is hard to teach on being patient with God, with family, with friends and yet skip over LOVE. It is hard to be kind to others when we don't LOVE them. Everything points back to love. I like how The Message reads, "LOVE from the center of who you are, don't fake it."

We LOVE our kids as we be patient with them while learning to potty train, while learning different life skills/lessons. We LOVE others as we are patient with them in their journey we like to call life - so they may not be where we want them to be, but let's LOVE them through the process and allow God to be in charge.

I have learned that sometimes LOVE hurts. LOVE isn't always easy. However, when we read further into 1 Corinthians, it says LOVE never fails, LOVE perseveres. When we want to give up LOVING, when it gets too hard, remember that LOVE, true LOVE, doesn't quit.

As found in The Message:

1 Corinthians 4:4-9 "Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, Doesn't force itself on others, Isn't always 'me first,' Doesn't fly off the handle, Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, Doesn't revel when others grovel, Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, Puts up with anything, Trusts God always, Always looks for the best, Never looks back, But keeps going to the end."