Day 22: FRUIT

Focus is a tricky part of this challenge.

Catherine from Grace to Abide expressed what I’m sure many have been feeling:

Sometimes I find it helpful to focus on the positive and not just on the negative (trying not to complain or criticize).

For 31 days we’re noticing our complaining+ habits…

…while focusing on God’s word and gratitude.

In sharing examples from my own journey, perhaps I’ve focused too much on the negative. I do want to be practical: discussing what this challenge looks, sounds, and feels like in real life for me.

And I want to be hope-full!

What Withers 

Which is why I’ve been greatly encouraged by an e-mail I received from my father today in response to Day 21’s blog post on HOLD:

I would remind you that now you dislike not holding your tongue. It wasn’t that long ago when you thought yourself rather clever for the words your tongue flung. 

This is called repentance. 

Your attitude has changed. You now dislike your behavior, and you cry out for change. This is a prayer God always hears and answers. 

How? 

Not by pushing a button, but by allowing you to experience the pain and suffering caused by your behavior so that it becomes even more odious and despicable. 

When temptation is met with a repentant attitude, the old habits wither. 

Fake Fruit

I live surrounded by Watsonville strawberry fields. So each day, I witness the full cycle of planting-to-harvesting in action.

You know what I’ve never seen the farmers do?

Not once have I seen them head to the craft store, buy a ton of plastic strawberries, come back to the fields, and stuck the plastic strawberries on the plants.

They know better than to try to fool their customers with fake fruit! When I serve strawberry shortcake, I know what texture, taste, and especially smell I expect from my Watsonville strawberries.

Plastic strawberries from Michaels might look okay from a distance, but close-up? Nothing like the real thing.

Yet I’ve tried to pass off spiritual fake fruit as the real deal.

I’ve tried to act loving and joyous. Act peaceful and patient. Act kind and good. Act faithful and gentle. Act self-controlled.

From a distance, my acts probably looked okay.

But up close?

Nothing like the real thing.

Real Growth

Today I locked my keys in the car. I had a full afternoon and evening all scheduled out with no margins for error.

My keys had fallen out of my purse and onto the floor. When I stopped at Starbucks, I thought to myself, “No problem. The Murano won’t let me lock the keys inside!” as I manually locked the car (out of habit) and shut the door.

Here’s your trivia lesson for the day: When the battery in the keyless entry device is dying/dead, a Murano will, in fact, allow keys to be locked inside. (And yes, I’ve realized that the battery was dying for weeks, perhaps even months, but that is a different story altogether…suffice to say, the fault was all mine!)

I started to panic about all my plans. About the time I’d waste waiting for roadside service to arrive. Starbucks had free wireless, but my laptop was locked in the car; how awful, how unfair, how…

…r-i-d-i-c-u-l-o-u-s!

I was in an absurd situation that I could have prevented but hadn’t.

Oh well!

I laughed at myself (albeit weakly at first!), found a comfortable table in the sun, called USAA, and pulled out my Bible verse cards. Had today’s verse down cold by the time my rescuer arrived.

(Can’t see the image? Click here to download Galatians 5:22-23!)

For a Choleric/Driver who claws for control, this is growth. Real growth. Old habits are withering. I felt frustration rise up briefly only to flop right back down.

Apart from Christ I am nothing but plastic; okay from a distance, but up close, nothing like the Real Thing.

But as I remain in Christ and Christ remains in me, I experience real growth and bear real fruit.

And can I just say: I really enjoyed the lovely flavors of fresh patience and ripe peace!

 

Try this today:

This is the benediction with which my father closed his e-mail to me today. Pray it for yourself, a friend or family member, or even someone on your “Ramon” list:

I pray that God’s continual blessings strengthen and gladden you, that you will know you are loved and rest in His love, that you will allow His love to surround you and fill you, that you will act as you are: His beloved child.

 

Leave a comment! 

• responding to today’s blog, and/or

• sharing your Day #1-22 experience of replacing “baditude” with God’s word and gratitude, and/or

• about anything else on your heart!

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