God Granny and some Good Fruit

I find that with age my discernment is getting better and I am learning that my itty bitty granny was right a LOT of the time!! Galatians 5:22 But, the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives; Love, joy, peace, patience,kindness, goodness, faithfulness 23. Gentleness, and self control. There is no law against these things! God's word is amazing. If He says it, it will come to pass. Now then what did my sweet crazy Granny have to say on these matters? Love? Love em' baby. Even if they don't deserve it love em'. That being said she also said loving em' doesn't mean you have to surround yourself with them. As my wise friend Shellie would say "we can love them from over here." Insert her awesome laughter. Love means wanting the best for others and doing for them what you can to help them get the best. It means saying I will step up for you wether you would do the same for me. It means praying for blessings and rejoicing when they receive them. So I am devoting myself to trying to see others the way god sees them and trying to think the best of them in all circumstances. I will fail at this but I will repent and try again. Better everyday :) Joy? Laugh! And not one of those sweet fake laughs but a deep laugh that makes your face hurt a little! She always said nothing made satan madder than a broken person who can still be joyful. There is a lot to be joyful about. I was redeemed to eternal life I didn't deserve. That's pretty amazing! About 3 yrs ago I had a pulmonary embolism and was in ICU for a week. Death came to claim me and Jesus stepped in the gap! I swore I would be more joyful and find reasons to laugh and sing and tell people I love them wether they reciprocated or not. But life happened and I lost that focus as people turned their backs on friendships, as people said awful things, as people I've loved have passed away, I fell into sadness, depression, and sorrow. So, I am dedicating myself to find something to be joyful about every time I think of something that brings me pain. And when I fail, I will repent, and try to do it better. Peace? She used to say you can't stand in a crap storm, and wonder why things are crappy! In other words don't surround yourself with people who cause drama and expect peace. Don't create the drama yourself and then wonder why things get ugly. When I was younger I would run head long into a crapstorm, in fact go out of my way to be a part of it. I didn't really know different. With age I am figuring out how tiring and depleting that is. That's why God says rest in my peace. It's the only place you can find rest sometimes. So I have decided to find the peace in the storm. Not to run from life, but to have enough sense to know relationships and people who are the bringers of hurricanes. Patience?! Yuck! Good things are worth waiting for, they're not easy to wait for but they're worth it. God will bring about His perfect will in his perfect time. Or I can jump in make a mess and postpone my blessing. I want to find that balance between waiting and stepping out in faith. And that requires patience when you are a fire starter like I am. So I will wait! Kindness, Granny always said its loves soft touch. I think that's very true. It's doing more than you have to. It's thinking better of them than they deserve. It,s empathy and compassion. And taking into consideration the other persons spirit, and what has been piled on them, and saying I don't have to be right, right now, instead I'll just be kind. It's a beautiful text, a special card, or sending flowers to a sister in need of a smile. I really do try to be kind. But there is always room for improvement. Goodness? She said it's what you do in the dark. It's what everything else grows from. Remember apart from God no one is good. It's impossible. But with Him dwelling within us, He is the voice directing us to good, right, and just choices. I strive to be better and better in all these times when it's just me and God and the right choice. Faithfulness? I believe it to mean loyalty. An allegiance to uphold someone's reputation, to step up when they are in need, and to not allow anyone to tear them down in my presence. I think of it as holding firm to promises even when everything says they will never come to pass. I think of it as a 23 yr marriage that has never seen divorce as an option. I think of it as a friendship that says I won't stand here and let you tear down this person. I think of it as the love of a granny who knows you're a hot mess, but stands in faith that you'll mature into a message. Gentleness, that ones a booger! I tend to be like a bull in a china closet with words. I've lost friendships because of a sharp tongue and a quick wit. I am learning to temper my words with compassion. I think of when a young child holds something precious and we say. Be gentle, don't break it. Because of my lack of gentleness I have broken many precious things. But I am trying very hard to bubble wrap my sharp edges in gentleness and when I fail? I'll try again. Self control? Pump the breaks kid! It's not letting emotion rule your actions, but instead being ruled by good sense and Holy Spirit. I am getting better.... I know hard to believe. But, I am. I am not where I want to be but I am closer every day. I don't post half the things I think. I write them, save them, revisit them, and delete them. I will continue to try to live in this way. It is hard! So I will continue to try to live out these fruits so that others will know He who lives in me. Again, I am not perfect and I will fail. But, I will never stop trying! God bless and keep you, Ms. Jill