Fruits of the Spirit

Happy Day 67

        Frances in her School Uniform

Today was such a happy day with my Francesca- happy, confident, pure. She taught me a song she learned at her preschool, Highland Park Presbyterian:

The Fruits of the Spirit are

Love, Joy, Peace,

Patience, Goodness, Kindness,

Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control.

In such there is no more. 

    Galatians 5:22

I am so very grateful for her wonderful Spirit! 

The following is a definition of these fruits - attributes of a true Christian life. I also love the comparison of the righteous to trees - so symbolic. 

"Fruits of the Spirit" is a biblical term that sums up the nine visible attributes of a true Christiian life described by Paul in his letter to the Galatians. He references nine attributes to the Fruits of the Spirit.  The  original Greek term translated as "fruit" is singular, signifying that there is one fruit possessing nine attributes.

Throughout the Bible, the righteous are likened to trees,^{[Prov. 11:30]} and in Galatians 5, Paul names the fruit a righteous tree bears. Accordingly, this "fruit" is grown by those who have truly repented and become followers of Jesus^{[Matt. 3:8]} and correspond with God's divine personality worked into the Christian human spirit.^[2] 

It is arguable whether one who does not bear this fruit is truly a Christian. In John's account of the Gospel, Jesus said, "These things I command you, that you love one another",^{[John 15:17]} referred to as the New Commandment or the second greatest commandment. Paul illustrates with these attributes the kind of love that marks a true Christian life. 

"By their fruits ye shall know them."