But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control – Galatians 5:22
The last few weeks I have been meditating on how the fruit of the Spirit is instructive to the parenting of our children. Of course we want our children to bear this fruit as they mature in the faith, but how much more so should these attributes be the pattern for our own lives as we seek to nurture and train them? The aroma of our homes should be this fruit, and wherein we are lacking, let us pray for the Holy Spirit to provide what is needed. Pray that the Lord would increase your love, joy and peace in your children; pray that he would increase your patience, kindness and goodness toward them; pray for faithfulness, gentleness and self-control in your dealings with them. If you have yet to memorize the fruit of the Spirit, then do so, that it might be at the forefront of your mind and quick to your thoughts. Begin seeing your children through this lense, and you may never look at them quite the same way again.