Grow: The Fruit of the Spirit is... Kindness

Before reading this post, take a minute to listen to this song about putting on love (of which kindness is of course a part).

As we're putting on LOVE, we put on kindness. How do we do this?

We've been really into super heroes these days (spiderman and fire star, in particular), so I thought, why not "put on kindness" by putting on a superhero cape! Many times superheroes are depicted as saving others from harm, showing kindess to others.

Source

If I were SUPERMOM, I would have totally made them some real capes (this one is actually a no-sew one from Love & Sugar Kisses). But, I didn't, so we are using small fleece blankets to tie around our necks. When someone thought of something kind to do, they put on their superhero cape and said, "I'm Captain Kindness, here to show you kindness" and then do whatever kind thing they were thinking of. Some things might be helping someone pick up toys even if they didn't make the mess, putting someone's plate in the sink after dinner for them, playing with someone (ahem, a little someone) even if they didn't feel like it, or helping me with making dinner or watching siblings downstairs while I did a chore upstairs. It makes it really FUN to be kind, and helps them to always be thinking about how they can show kindness to others.

Kindness & Goodness: For Adults
For us parents, I'm doing something a little different this week. I'm clumping these two fruits together and shoving nudging you to a blog of a good friend of mine, JR. Forasteros. He's a teaching pastor over at Beavercreek Nazarene Church in Ohio, and he's done a series on the fruit of the Spirit fairly recently. At the beginning of his post, he offers a link to his sermon on this topic for you to listen to OR you can download his manuscript to read. It's insightful and thought-provoking. So skaddadle over there, download it, and listen to it while you work-out/groceryshop/tote kids around in the car. You won't be disappointed.

And for your following along on the scripture memory verses. Here's the next installment!

A little peek into next week: we choose the ORANGE to go along with this kindness. Any guesses as to why? We'll have some fun fruit activities to do on Monday, so be sure to check back!