Summer Fruit All Year

I'm not sure if it's a regional thing, but our little corner of the world has a love-hate relationship with autumn. It's pumpkin spice everything or not at all. Folks are either holding onto weekends at the Jersey shore as if they will never have another, or they've stocked up on apple cider and sweet potatoes as if a summer armageddon will overtake us and we will never see temps below 80 again. As much as I relish the idea of a world without mosquitoes and humidity, the departure of summer means the departure of summer fruit. No peaches, strawberries, blueberries, tomatoes --even sweet, delicious corn on the cob (not a fruit; yes, I know). But, we can take solace in the knowledge, each one of those little tasties arrived in our lives with seeds, and some of those seeds will sprout, and some of those sprouts will enter our life next year as plants and trees which will bear more tasties. God designed it that way, and He says so in Genesis 1:11:

"Then God said, 'Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself, on the earth'; and it was so."

That is not a wonderful assurance that remains within the confines of our gardens. It was no accident Paul likened the characteristics of the Holy Spirit to fruit. Galatians 5:22, 23 says:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

The presence of God's Spirit in the life of a believer produces, bears the fruit of, the character of God. That is the evidence of God living in us and ruling in our lives. But, here's the thing that really spoke to me this morning as I was beating myself up over all of my foibles and failures, that fruit is there for me to partake of! I'm not just a new creation, a city on a hill, salt and light, demonstrating the goodness and power of God for others; love, joy, peace, patience (longsuffering), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are shown to me each and every moment of the day by my Father in heaven. That fruit is mine to enjoy! When I mess up a relationship, God heals my wounds with His love and patiently walks me through the stages necessary for restoration. When I fly off the handle unnecessarily, God is faithful and will not abandon me; He sticks with me as I ask forgiveness, demonstrating His self-control that I might follow His example. When I face grief and disappointment, God is my reason to rejoice and rest; His kindness, goodness, and gentleness are of a Father, wrapping His arms around His hurting child and whispering my name, "Daughter." When the world serves up trouble, bitter and hot, God is the sweet fruit that cools and refreshes His children in their distress, planting seeds that the same fruit might be borne in us. All.Year.Long.