Fruits of the Spirit

A favorite lesson taught throughout the year - the fruits of the Spirit.

We pull out our small basket of 9 different plastic fruits and pick one of the fruits we’ve decided it represents - from love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness to goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. 

And then we begin… What do you think this fruit means? How does it help us to be more like Jesus? When can we share this fruit with others? So many good things to talk about!

As you can guess, the fruit of Patience is one that could be visualized and modeled most mornings as we learn to wait - for our turn, for snack, for playground. Yes, patience is practiced! 

Just like the visual of a basket of plastic fruit, a story can teach as well. This delightful book, Maybe God is Like That Too, by Jennifer Grant was a gift for our class from one of my precious preschoolers. 

Through the eyes of a little boy, we are treated to how we all can see God. Throughout his day, the little boy sees what the different fruits of the Spirit look like in the actions of those around him. By the end of his day, he can now imagine what God is like through all these beautiful signs of His Spirit. And best of all, he desires to “be like that too.”

The gift of a story to not only entertain, but to teach and shape little minds.

And for me, when a story captures the meaning of a lesson, it weaves all the pieces of a lesson together. When woven tight, they can be remembered in our hearts as well.