Fruit of the Spirit

On my way to work this morning I was listening to a much needed message on the fruit of the spirit. When I got to work, I had to dig a little deeper. Yes this is a lesson that I have learned and heard more times than I could tell you, I remember doing a chart for Sunday school on the fruit of the spirit, but sometimes we need a refresher. I know that I need to bear fruit. I know that I need to love, have joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, but it's not something that we just "do" it's also something that we "are" as we grow in the spirit. Some of the things that I went over come natural for me. They wouldn't come natural if I didn't have the spirit of Christ in me, if I had not accepted him as my lord and savior, but it is the spirit that gives me these characteristics - the character of Christ. I read something online that stated that with the spirit, he grows us, cleans us and makes good fruit - through Jesus. While I have the spirit and again some of the characteristics come easy (some not so much), I am also sinful by nature and have to be very careful to make sure that I don't roll down the wrong path (like a rotten pumpkin) (ha). Paul also wrote of things that are not part of this character: gossip, the undermining of others, easily believing ill of others, loose sexual behavior, empty speech, quick temper, and the eagerness for money. Wow! I struggle with some of those from time to time. What does that reflect of my walk???? I'm still growing and in order to not stunt my growth, I have to cling to his word and pray that he will continue to grow me. I want others to know me by my fruit! I tell my daughters many, many mornings when they get out for school to let their light shine, but does mine? I want others to know that I can react to circumstances without acting irrational, I can control my temper and my tongue when I feel like letting someone have it, I can trust in God in the troubled times, I can walk away from a good gossip session, I can put myself in others shoes and not pass judgement, I can love the unlovable, I can have joy in the most difficult times, I can be compassionate and loving to my enemies, I can go out of my way to help someone EVEN when it's not convenient or it's not what's best for me and mine ONLY because I have the spirit in me! I'm not saying that I do all of these things all the time, I don't by any means, I mess up often, but it's what I long for - to possess the characteristics that reflect to the world that I am his!!!!!!!