As last month I focussed on love, I found myself enticed by the idea that I would pick one of the aspects of the fruit of the spirit, and focus on it each month.
I have a fond memory, that from time to time fades into view, flitting across my memory like a child playing hide and seek, like a butterfly in summer, never resting long enough to truly be seen. My memory is not as remarkable as a butterfly nor as entertaining as the child, but it is of me as a child.
I used to love writing stories. I blame it on my cousin, she was two years older than me and anything she did, I wanted to do too. And she wrote stories. Being slightly younger, my stories were either lesser spelled copies of hers or an amalgamation of real-life and whatever was being read to me at bedtime! I am thankful though for both of these inspirations that set light to my own imagination.
I remember writing a sentence. My cousin was coming and therefore so was my auntie 'Joy' (and uncle David). The memory, so vivid, is me writing, 'I almost jumped for joy as I saw them pull up', and then giggling at the fact she was called Joy and so it worked both ways. I jumped for her, and I jumped from emotion. It still doesn't take much to amuse me.
Back to Reality
As last month I focussed on LOVE, I found myself enticed by the idea that I would pick one of the aspects of the fruit of the spirit, and focus on it each month. March is my birthday month and so it seemed fitting, as well as ordered, that in March I would look at Joy.
As the month began this bundle of joy appeared at my door (RSPCA approved!). This was going to be a month of joy for sure! Watching her play (and even the 6am wake-up call was worth it!) I knew I would have loads to write about, I mean who doesn't want to find out more about joy, how to get it, and how to give it?
Then the tide started to turn. March is not an easy month for me, and that coupled with the lockdown anniversary and sadly saying goodbye to Belle. It looked as if joy would become sorrow.
Surprised by Joy
It's been a while since I've pulled a proper Sabbath. I was just getting bored, a year of (mostly) living alone and sabbath just seemed uninspiring. I needed distraction though so I thought what better way to perk me up than to study joy! What I found surprised me and has in only a few hours, done something to my heart, to heal strengthen me.
I think this post will be two, because I have a tendency to storytell, and I this will become thesis and the energy will be lost! I thought, I was going to find out, what bought me joy and how to not feel sad. Now, don't hear me wrong - I am a big embrace of the need to feel, but I was tumbling in circles of guilt, striving, and wanting to feel the sadness & grief. I'll probably write about that next time.
Strengthened by Joy
What occurred to me as I wrote, was this; emotions are different from fruit. It was such a small turn of perspective but even as I wrote it, I felt something in me change. I had been thinking of joy the emotion (which it is), but in the case of the letter to the Galatians, joy is a fruit! It is neither a charactered trait, nor an emotion, it is fruit, and it has a purpose.
If you read Galatians 5 from verse 16 we are told to "walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh". Then in verse 19-21 it lists the 'desires of the flesh - we'll come back here in a moment. Verse 22 then highlights the fruit of the spirit and herein lies the point that I suddenly came to see. The purpose of the fruit of the spirit is to stop us from giving in to the desires of the flesh. Joy stops me from running after these things, Joy calls to me and refocuses my attention, Joy breaks the hold of the flesh on me.
As I reflected on this, I noticed one last thing. Sadness is not listed in the desires of the flesh, My guilt fled, it could not stand. To feel sad and yet know joy were no longer in conflict, guilt had no hold, and hope strengthened me. There is so much more I could write, but I will pause here.
I want to reflect again on how joy is a fruit that the Spirit gives, to help me stay in step with him!
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