by Jill Pearson
I have a memory from childhood of coming inside on a hot summer day, hungry and sticky with sweat from the hard work of neighborhood play, and plucking two ripe plums from the refrigerator. Nothing is more satisfying than the sweet drippy tang of an ice cold plum. What is it about fruit?!
Jesus, the master storyteller of farm parables, often reminds us that life is all about planting, cultivating, and bearing fruit for his kingdom. In the letter to the Galatians, Paul describes aspects of godly living as “fruits of the spirit.” As sweet, tangy fruits are God’s gift to our mouths, so our good deeds and right attitudes are fruit offerings to God’s heart.
The editors of The Stir thought it would be fun to structure our August issue around stories that highlight the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:19-21) The women of Calvary bring so many diverse experiences to the table and are abundant with fruits of the spirit, so it wasn’t hard to track down these stories. When you read Karyn Grenz’s story of multiple acts of KINDNESS in the midst of hosting a heart patient, Joy Horsley’s harrowing medical story requiring an abundance of PATIENCE, Ann Knodel’s sweet story of LOVE, and Sarah Satterblom’s African mission story of FAITHFULNESS, you’ll understand what Paul meant by FRUIT. Jeni Harmon shares the challenge of finding PEACE as a soldier’s mother, and Nancy Monsen lists the JOYS of her life as a great grandma and active friend. Karyn shares a book review that focuses on SELF-CONTROL, and oh my GOODNESS, all the fruits culminate in Beth Ecker’s memories of a lifetime of church potlucks. As a sweet bonus, you’ll get to know two peaches, Beret Canakes and Rachel Sviggim, in Faces of Calvary.
Please grab your favorite fruit (grapes for me!) and settle in to enjoy these edifying stories.
Jill Pearson is co-editor of The Stir, wife to Dave, and mom to three young adults who have flown the nest but are easily lured back with an offer of dinner. She owns and operates Riverwood Studio, an art education business, and finds creative ways to serve at Calvary.