The story
Have you ever seen an apple tree? It doesn’t grow apples by trying really hard. Apples just grow, because it is an apple tree!
Paul wrote that it is like that with God’s Spirit. When we love Jesus, his Spirit lives in us. And good fruit starts to grow in our lives.
Not apples or grapes! This fruit is the good way we act and the way we treat people. God helps it grow, little by little, every day.
Here is the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. That’s nine kinds!
Gentleness is petting a lamb softly. Patience is waiting for your turn. Self-control is stopping when you want to grab. Joy is smiling, even on rainy days.
You can’t grow this fruit by yourself. Stay close to Jesus, like a branch on a tree, and he will make it grow in you!
