Paul, the author of the Book of Galatians, used the concept of fruit because it created a visual image of the characteristics of the Spirit of Christ. When teaching the Fruit of the Spirit, we always see a chart or pictures of fruit. Most people can recite the nine basic characteristics but how many examine themselves to make sure these are their personal characteristics acquired through their relationship with Christ? Reinforcing the characteristics of Christ in our children is the basis who they will become as adults.
This lesson may take a week to teach the definitions with your children and months to reinforce them. A good question to ask your children each day during dinner is, “How was your day? What characteristics of the Fruit of the Spirit/the characteristics of Christ did you use today? What did you do and what was the result.” But before we reach this stage, let’s define what each word means.
Definitions
LOVE (parent to child.)
Love is agape love is selfless, unconditional love. God loves us unconditionally, without thought, and we should love each other the same way. It is the way Jesus feels about us. This type of love is always giving and impossible to take or be taken. Agape love shows itself in action. (Focus on the Family, Agape Love.)
It is the way I feel about you when you behave or misbehave when you are sick or well. If you have a pet, use the pets’ relationship with your child. It is when Sam hides your ball, tears up your book, wets on the floor and when he retrieves the toy you threw, sits next to you, and sleeps on your bed. It is Sam being Sam and loving him for it.
JOY (parent to child)
Joy is a feeling of internal (warm inside) peace. It’s the warm feeling you get when you see Grandma, your new baby sister or, picked out your pet. It is how you feel the love God has for you and the love you have for God. It is a snuggly, warm feeling.
Peace (parent to child)
The warm, snuggly feeling is the joy and peace we feel in our hearts. Peace comes from the presence of God in your life. It lets you know God loves you and sent his only Son to return our relationship with Him. When you are using these characteristics (of Christ) in your decision-making, you will experience peace when you make the decision and will know God is with you.
Patience (parent to child)
When we pray, God answers our prayers, but sometimes it does not happen right away. When you get a new pet, you have to have patience while you train it. When a little brother, sister, cousin, or neighbor are playing with you, and they do not treat your toys the way you want them to, you have to learn to wait without staying angry while they learn how to treat your toys. God wants us to learn to become patient with others, just as he is patient with us. Patience is being kind to others even when you don’t want to. It is how we trust God to improve or change the things around us.
Kindness (parent to child)
Is how we treat others, we are not rude, angry, or blaming. It is being generous. It is letting go of have a friend mistreated you. It means we are concerned about others, for example when a friend gets hurt on the playground; you help them up, get an adult, and tell them everything will be okay. It helps us to become better people
Goodness (parent to child)
Is more than kindness. Your friend got hurt, you were kind because you wanted to help him. The act of goodness is helping him. Many people want to help someone in need but do not follow through. Goodness is following through because you know that is what God wants you to do. Is having a good heart. We say goodness in people during Hurricane Harvey, Irma and Maria. Neighbors were helping each other to survive the storms.
Faithfulness (parent to child)
Is being reliable to those around you. If your I (mother) ask you to put your clothes in the hamper and you do it, it is reliable. I can trust you to do what you say you will do. It is standing up for something or someone when they have been mistreated.
Gentleness (parent to child)
Is not blaming a person for doing something wrong, but instead helping them to do better. Gentleness does not show conceit, envy or rudeness. God’s love helps you become gentle and caring.
Self-control (parent to child)
Is when you stop and think about what you are getting ready to do and decide not to do it because it is wrong. It is self-discipline. Athletes are self-disciplined, they know how they should behave and how to exercise to be their best. The Holy Spirit helps us to have self-control and to behave ourselves.