“But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV).
The Christian faith teaches that these are the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I only recall this ever being taught as something that you will receive, if you believe and receive God’s Holy Spirit. I was always taught that these are a gift, i.e., the “gift of the Holy Spirit”.
Somewhere along the line—and relatively recently—I realized that this is not what the verses say. The writer of the letter to the Galatians, Paul, does not say or imply this. Rather the writer states: “the fruit of the spirit is…”. Nowhere does he write the “gift of the spirit is…”. What I have come to realize is that these are desirable qualities that I must develop—that I must cultivate. I have discovered that the presence (or absence) of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in my heart is my responsibility.
Whatever your beliefs, these are qualities that we should want to develop. Unfortunately, for most of us, these do not come easily. In fact, there are times when I feel as though I lack these completely.
I find the idea of cultivation helpful. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take effort. They require care and nurturing. They are a product of refinement.
Cultivation can be defined as “the process of trying to acquire or develop a quality or skill.” In botanical terms, fruit is a seed-bearing product of a flowering plant. This brings a deeper association of the term with the process of growth. On a minimal level, cultivation develops the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, which alone is great; but, fruit bears seed, and seed bears more fruit. Hence, our efforts to grow in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control result in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in others—which, in turn, bears more fruit.
The notion of bearing fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) fits well with the notion that the Emotional dimension is the keystone of the wellness pyramid. We certainly lay a foundation with the Spiritual and Physical dimensions, and we build upon these with the Intellectual dimension; but, Emotional well-centeredness is crucial to moving to healthy relationships in the Social dimension. These “fruit” are cultivated by first understanding the need to have such fruit in our lives and relationships. Once such an understanding is had, the desire needs to be present to put the effort toward growth. With desire must come the will, and practice follows will.
These are not easy fruit to cultivate. It takes practice. Ironically, it takes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. It takes a seed.
The fruit, however, is worth the effort. As one’s life bears fruit, it, in turn, provides the seed for growth in others.
Cultivation of fruit trees requires pruning—cutting away dead and unproductive branches to increase growth and fruitfulness. Pruning comes from within and without. Ideally, we are conscious of our or shortcomings and weaknesses and make efforts to self-prune. Invariably, our shortcomings and weaknesses will be exposed by others—in the most and least gracious of ways. As we are pruned, we allow for the nutrients of growth to be focused on the areas of strength—of good fruit—and grow these further.
It gives me hope for myself to recognize that I can cultivate the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I don’t have to wait for these to be miraculously bestowed upon me (or question my faith because they have not been). I have to resolve daily to make the effort to love, to have joy, to make/be peace, to be patient, to be kind, to be good, to be faithful, to be gentle, and, above all, to practice self-control. I have to have a growth plan and follow through.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow!
Carpe momento!