Special Needs Parenting

Finding Faith And Friendship On The Special Needs Journey

What Fruit Do You Have?

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fruit
What fruit do you have?
That is what someone asked me once. I didn’t know what they were talking about at first. I was thinking real life fruit that I eat? They laughed a little and said, "no the fruit of the spirit."

I started to recite out loud Galations 5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against such things there is no law.

I sat for a minute and tears just started to stream down my cheeks. My friend asked what was wrong.

I simply said, "I have a ways to go."

I think I do the love one pretty good. Joy, I'm not so sure. Peace…I need a lot of work on this one. Patience… oh boy that one is tough for me. Kindness I think I do that one pretty good most of the time unless I get angry. Goodness I think that one is good. I am a real rule follower. Faithfulness that is one of my strong ones. Gentleness could use more work on that one. Self-Control oh boy that one is a little harder for me too.

After just sharing this with you all right now I feel so vulnerable, like you know my not so great things. Christ does too and continues to love me and work on making those better. I personally can’t wait to get to heaven and then they will all be completely perfect.

As I have gone through each of these traits a flood of memories good and not so good come rushing.

Memories like when my voice was raised with school personnel when they didn't follow through and take care of my son the way they said they would (not so gentle, not so kind).

How about the time I snapped at my husband because he didn't do what he said he would get done… didn't show too much self-control or love.

Often getting out of the house to get to school is a scramble. I try and have Charlie do most things on his own, but it takes a lot longer for him to get them done (pick out his clothes, change, help make his lunch). As the time gets closer for us to leave and if it goes past the time we need to leave I may get a little snappy with my tone and I'm not very patient.

Sometimes I have this verse cut out and I put it right beside my bed so every night and morning I can be reminded of these great things that God wants from us. They don't come easy, at least for me.

I want to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good faithful, gentle, and always use self-control.

Do you struggle like me?

God knows the ones you do really well and the ones that still need some work. The important thing is do you know the ones you need to work on too? Are you working on those? Things fall in place so much better when we do these really well. At least that is how I feel. When I am more patient, others follow. When I am less patient others follow. I want them to be patient with me, so I need to be more patient with them.

Help me Lord to work on these daily. If you are reading this right now God wants you to work on these daily too. He wants you to show love, joy, peace, patience, faithfulness, kindness, gentleness, and self-control. Make this a new day of focusing on how you show your great fruits.

Blessings,
Patty Myers

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autismblessings

Principal at The First Hope of The First Academy
I am a wife and mother, but more importantly a child of God who is loved and blessed. As the Principal of a private Christian Special Needs School, it is humbling to be working with these students and I am blessed to see how God is working in their lives and in their families. My first book Autism Is A Blessing has been shared with many families to encourage them and look at autism in a positive light and how God can use our struggles and use them for His glory and honor. Check out my Blessings Blog at www.pattymyers.com.