Have you ever just been filled with so much joy that you find yourself simply smiling – even when you’re home alone? (Or…in my case, with your cats) Well, my friends, that’s how I find myself this week.
Now, as a teacher, this is a ‘standardized test week’ (for my non-standardized students), and I am STILL joyful. That right there…is proof of something.
What is it proof of? Hmmm….
Inside recess is not for the faint of heart, but yesterday I sat at my desk with over 30 children in my room. Some working on late work, some with their heads down to “pay” a fine, and others…enjoying quiet recess. Quiet? Yep, you read that correctly. Why? I told them as long as “the lights stayed on” that recess would continue. I mean, if they’re testing in the morning, I’m okay with giving them some extra free time.
Now, inside recess requires…patience. Generally, there’s not much I think is worse than inside recess, but yesterday…it wasn’t stressing me out. Hmmm….
As I was pondering the joy and patience mentioned above, a passage bursts into my thoughts. You see, my Monday Bible study group is going through a study called “Meeting the Spirit.” Therefore, the Holy Spirit has been in my thoughts more, so I suppose I’ve been doing a self-assessment on my “Fruit of the Spirit.”
Well, my JOY is strong. My PATIENCE is growing, but…what about…
Love, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-Control?
Immediately upon pondering the other fruit, I have a WARNING light trigger. Guesses? Well….it would be GENTLENESS & SELF-CONTROL. A flashback to yesterday. My “hall monitor” was getting snippy about the “boys’ restroom monitor” not reporting to her. Now, I had just told her that the boys all earned a + as they showed self-control with their noise level. I could’ve simply reminded her of that, but instead…I was a bit snarky back. I was DEFINITLEY not gentle. As I pondered it last night, I made a note to myself to show that student extra gentleness today. And….maybe….try counting and breathing before speaking to someone who may have been a bit snippy with me.
Then, as I pondered the others, a colleague was sharing her lack of affection for lunchroom duty. I mean, I don’t know anyone who ENJOYS cafeteria duty. However, I don’t mind it. Plus, recess duty tends to affect my breathing, eyes, etc. You know…the joy of allergies. So, I told her I’d take her lunch duty on the 21st since we scheduled our work day on the 22nd (she was hoping to either get to KEEP her science lab or LOSE her lunch duty – Totally get it!). So, as I was watching my kids tackle the math performance task, I thought…Hmmm….grow my kindness. How could I take it a step further? Then, a HUGE LIGHT BULB lit up in my brain! It was like a strong nudge of a fruit application and a reminder of a Biblical challenge.
Well, I’m just going to say that the Holy Spirit’s nudge just made my three colleagues happy campers! I’m not even exaggerating….one of them wanted to know my favorite candy or snacks, so she could be a blessing to me as well. LOL So, except for the next three Tuesdays (so I can share a lunch with Maria & Kim and monitor the inside workroom), cafeteria duty and I are going to be synonymous.
As for Peace, Goodness, Faithfulness, and Love…. That’s a daily personal challenge to know, show, and grow. I’m not a full-fledged fruit tree yet, but…I’m praying His Spirit keeps pruning away my bruised fruit and helping me show juicy goodness and genuine love to those I share this life with…even if it’s the cashier at Dollar General or a rude driver on the road. We shall see….
What about you? Why not do a Fruit Inspection of your own and see which areas need some attention? You’ll be glad you did. Maybe not as glad as my colleagues with me taking their May lunch duties (except for 1 each)…but you’ll be glad. More importantly, He’ll be glad.
Oh! The title! Since my church voted on “RiverStone” as our new church name AND I’ve been pondering children’s message…two songs from decades ago that we would sing at church camp have been playing through my head. One was “River of Life” and the other is maybe “Bubbling Over” or something like that?
This is the only video I found with the “extra words”…maybe I should make my own?
Jodi Lea Pflaumer, Author 