Fruit of the Bloom

LOVE JOY PEACE PATIENCE KINDNESS GOODNESS FAITHFULNESS GENTLENESS SELF-CONTROL

You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor figs from thistles, are they? Matthew 7:15

Every winter we are blessed with amazing lemons that radiate a vibrant yellow against the gray skies. They are robustly fragrant, plump, and juicy and often last until summer. A few months ago they were only blossoms, then green buds, and are now delicious life-giving vitamin C, just in time for winter colds. The design of their purpose is unmistakable. God always knows our needs before we do.

The growth cycle of lemons cannot be rushed. They need the slow and gradual process of sunshine, water, and time to reach maturity. The same is true for each one of us who have chosen to follow Christ. Being more like him is the destination, but the road is long because we are not naturally bent towards goodness. Thankfully God is more concerned by how strong we grow rather than how swiftly we arrive. So how do we mature in the fruits of the spirit? 

Looking over old church notes from 2011, our pastor at the time shared this message on January 1st. He said,”We don’t need a New Year’s Resolution, we need a New Year’s Revelation. We need to set aside time for our pilgrimage to meet with God. Ask God for a defining word for this new year- for your marriage, your children, and direction. We need to find the rhythm of seeking God and truth. We must first stand before God before we can stand before man.” A daily pilgrimage to meet with him is essential to hearing God’s voice. 

If we find that God is silent, it could be because our Bibles are closed. Reading the Word is our weapon against spiritual warfare. The battle begins in our thoughts. In 2nd Corinthians 10:5, it says, “We are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.” Every day there is a battle for our thoughts, words, and actions. 

In his book, Mere Christianity,  C.S. Lewis said, “That is why daily prayers and religious readings and churchgoing are necessary parts of the Christian life. We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed.”

Churchgoing is a practice essential to the Christian walk. We are all the body of Christ and the unity of a church creates accountability and support. We learned recently that we have only been church attendees, not members. We have never fully volunteered to serve anywhere because we were searching for the perfect pastor and church. We have discovered that that person and place do not exist because we are all imperfect. We have decided that now is the best time to commit.

Time is of the essence. Over this holiday we lost an uncle and visited Oregon for his funeral service. There is nothing more sobering than the death of a loved one to offer perspective and reflection. Life is honestly so short. Our example to our children and grandchildren is fundamental to how they grow. They are watching us. 

If we want fresh lemons for lemonade in the spring, we mush plant that tree years in advance. We cannot expect mature lemons months from planting that seed. Thankfully, with the fruits of the spirit, we can trust God to mature them in us as long as we saturate ourselves in his every word, communicate with him daily-all day, and have fellowship with other believers. Everyone on the Roots staff is a believer. We are all imperfect but are available to listen, pray, 

and encourage if there is a need.

May our children see us as mature trees bearing fruit of love, joy, peace, and self-control. May kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and patience be obvious in all we do. Let this year be the year to plant those seeds of habit to mature and bloom in Christ. Choose one, or more than one fruit of focus for 2026. Read, pray, and serve, and watch God move in your hearts, family, and workplace. Happy New Year!