The Kindness Fruit
“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” -John 15:8
Food poisoning. Asthmatic allergies. Conjunctivitis. Our family trend has been to start each new year off being sick, so why would 2020 start any differently? I spent plenty of time this last week lying in bed, which gave me the opportunity to reflect on my new year’s goals and resolutions. As an Enneagram 3w2, times like this bring out the list-checking, goal-chasing, achiever “3” side of me. I don’t think I have ever been able to pick just one resolution. I usually have a numbered list of resolutions for my personal self, my role as a wife, a mom, a boss, and a follower of Jesus. I try to achieve growth in all areas, because why do just one when you can do more? (See what I mean about that 3 status ringing out loud and clear?) Well, after a week of pondering and praying, this year I’m doing things differently.
Death has a funny way of reminding us to reevaluate our priorities. Since losing my grandma in October, a single question has been rattling around in my mind. “What will people say about my life and walk on earth when my time for eternity comes?” In my search for an answer, I have settled some things that I need to let go of and be okay with accepting that people will not say of me.
People will not say, “She had the most beautiful eyelashes”. It just wasn’t in my cards. My boys on the other hand...holy lashes, Moses!
People will not say, “She looked great in a bikini”. Two kids and a love for baking aren’t ideal for my waistline.
People will not say, “She left her children with a lot of wealth”. Our finances are surviving, not thriving.
Please do not hear me saying that chasing health or financial stability are bad goals. What I am saying is that the goal of the race I am running looks a little bit different.
When I go home, I hope people will say, “She was a loving mother who cherished and empowered her children”.
I hope people will say, “She was a devoted wife who prioritized her husband and their marriage, even in the hard times”.
I hope people will say, “She was a Proverbs 31 woman who, despite many flaws, chased after Jesus with endurance and strength.”.
If this is what I hope, then this is where my priorities need to be.
In order to achieve this, I must strive to look more like Jesus today than I did yesterday, and more like Jesus tomorrow than I do today. Easy to say, harder to do; but I have a plan of attack, and it has to do with fruit.
Jesus spoke to his followers explaining that He is the vine and we are the branches. Whoever remains in him will bear much fruit, but apart from him, we can do nothing (John 15:1-8). It is only when we bear fruit that we can truly be identified as one of Jesus’ disciples. Galatians 5:22-23 explains to us the kind of fruit our lives should possess if we remain in Him: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control. It would be truer of me to attempt to tackle all of these fruits simultaneously, but I feel the Lord asking me to slow down and focus on one thing. The word He gave me for this year is “Kindness”.
In years past I may have thought this was an easy word to tackle. It’s not too hard to show kindness. Or is it?
Kindness to the elderly person driving 5 miles under the speed limit so they can feel confident in getting across town safely and keep their independence a little bit longer?
Kindness to the neighbor who doesn’t stop their dog from barking outside all hours of the night.
Kindness to the friend I feel is abandoning me.
Kindness to the person who is causing me pain.
Kindness to my children when, for the love, all of my patience has run out.
Kindness to my husband when it feels like we are seeing eye to foot, instead of eye to eye.
And perhaps the hardest of all, kindness to myself when I fail.
I have decided to extend this goal of kindness beyond my own personal journey, and into our family life. I want my children to develop the fruit of kindness, so they will learn more about the character of Jesus, and be fruitful spirits in a hurting world. In order to keep us accountable to kindness this year, I found these creative little kindness cards online (https://www.thegivingmanger.com/). Each card reveals a new challenge to spread kindness in the world around us. They say things like, “Make someone else’s bed” or “Deliver a treat to a neighbor. Ring the doorbell and run!” or “Surprise 3 people with a sincere compliment”. Whenever we run out of cards, we will come up with our own ideas to write down and place in a jar, because what child doesn’t love drawing a mystery challenge out of a jar?
Why am I sharing all of this with you? Well for starters, I’m hoping you will help hold me accountable. Secondly, I hope you will feel challenged to have your own word - a fruit of the spirit or another word to challenge your heart and race after this year, and then tell me what it is! Perhaps we can hold each other accountable to keep our eyes on the prize in 2020. Are you in?
Comment below with your word for 2020.
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Seek out a verse that will encourage you to stick with your goal this year. Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it everyday. (Go ahead. I just did it, see?)
I have so much love for all of you! I can’t wait to hear what your words and challenges are for this year!
Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
