“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)

 

  (Annual family beach trip 2016)

 

As you read this today, my family will be heading West. Reed talked us into one last family vacation before he and Brighton get married this fall. I love to travel and explore new sites, so it was an easy sell for me. Jase is sort of a home-body, so I wasn’t sure it was going to happen. However, where there is golf, there is a way!

 

Yes, Jase and the boys get to play golf. But the main attraction will be the Grand Canyon and another large national park. Again, I was thrilled to learn about visiting these gorgeous places, intricately designed by God. Reed found where there is an incredibly beautiful waterfall nestled inside a canyon between gigantic rocks. He showed me a picture, and immediately I agreed. The picture was breathtaking! He forgot to mention at that initial conversation that it was ten miles into this canyon and that you can only reach it on foot. Yes, on foot!

 

Okay, back up for a second. To me, a vacation means sand between my toes, splashing in the waves of the gulf or ocean, lounging horizontal on a chaise reading a good book (or three) for a week. It does not mean hiking 10 miles one way in rugged terrain. But…the fact that my grown and almost-grown children want to do this together…with their parents? How can I say no?

 

So, I decided we had better make this a spiritual journey as well as a physical one.

 

We’ve decided to take the fruits of the Spirit that Paul talks about in Galatians and put them to use in very practical and tangible ways every day this week. Some will be easy to do, and some will be more difficult. (I’m secretly hoping the fruit of patience doesn’t fall on the 10-mile hike day as it may taste a bit bitter for me!)

 

Have you found it quite a bit easier to administer those fruits to people who you aren’t around all day long? It’s usually not a challenge to show them at church on Sunday mornings or at your child’s Open House night at school. It may be a tad more difficult to practice these fruits with your co-workers, students or patients on a daily basis. But who knows you best? That’s right. Our family knows us better than anybody else does. Yikes! Would your family members be able to check off each one of the fruits of the Spirit as evident characteristics in your life?

 

Challenge: Take each day this week and try to show each fruit to your family members in a hands-on, verbal and physical way. My family will be taking the challenge with you!

 

Today is LOVE and JOY!

 

I LOVE my family and I will see the JOY today in traveling with them for hours on planes and in cars to a place I’ve never been before and know completely nothing about. Woohoo!

 

Perspective.

 

Have a fruitful week!

Comments

Denise cross:

I’m taking your challenge. Ill pray for you as we walk through this week Enjoy your precious family time! In Him Denise

Aug 01, 2016

Cheri Olson :

We just got done with our oldest ’ s wedding this past weekend. Your family is such an inspiration to many and we will enjoy this challenge this week. could have used some patience this past week. :)

Aug 01, 2016

Kim:

God bless you & your beautiful family, Missy. Great passage, one of my favs…great challenge! Happy travels!

Aug 01, 2016

Tammy Hodges:

I saw your family in the airport today and assumed vacation was the plan. I love the Grand Canyon. It always brings to mind the scripture ’the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament showeth his handiwork ’. Safe travels.

Aug 01, 2016

Rachel Insalaco:

Have a great trip! The canyon is breathtaking!

Aug 01, 2016

Tracy Stark:

Mrs. Robertson,
I want to thank you for your post today in your journey with your family! You and your family are such an encoragement to me personally as I read and see your posts! To see a wonderful family like yours and the way you have God in your lives is such a testimony! God is the only way to live your life and with the way the world is now we all need Him more than ever! So thank you for allowing us in to your God loving family! I know I will never hear back from you personally, so with that said I hope your journey is filled with many fruits!
God’s blessing to you!
Tracy

Aug 01, 2016

Tayler Mccollum:

Hi Missy I love you and your family, I love duck dynasty I have watched you from the beginning and I love your worddsof wisdom that you have and I will be joining with you and your family on the journey this week I hope you and your family have blessed day and a safe trip.
Love Tayler

Aug 01, 2016

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