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Listen while you read: "All Creatures Of Our God And King"1
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Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, meekness, self-control; against such there is no law. (ASV)
Sometimes, we may wonder how well we really know a friend or a member of our family. Sometimes, we find out more a little later, and it serves up an opportunity to reflect on the events and the people that construct our tale.
One of those many instances jumped out at me a couple of days ago as I was riffling through a drawer of old greeting cards, notes, and assorted memories. I rediscovered a weathered, well-presented little card written by a brother-in-law, who passed away many years ago from cancer. He had been orphaned as a youngster when his parents died, and he was raised on a ranch in the Chilcotin country of British Columbia, Canada, by an uncle and aunt.
My sister, Ruthanne, took him as her husband, and we came to know and love him as a remarkably loyal and sensitive man who was dedicated to his family. But we really didn't always know how deeply talented and thoughtful he was until later when we found a stash of poetry which reflected a love of Christ. Peter, a poet? we thought.
From my memory drawer, I share with you some thoughts from one of our favourite kin… the late Peter Lea.
- The Fruit of the Spirit
What is the fruit of the Spirit
As we read in God's Word this day?
Is it the fruit hanging on the vine
Picked by us from our garden each day?
I'm thinking there must be more to these words
Than a perishing fruit from the tree
So I went to God's Word, the Bible,
To see what His Word said to me
And there I found these words expressed
So very clear and bold
The fruit of the spirit is "Love"
And it's manifested in this way we are told
Joy is Love's strength, in Him we are strong
Peace is Love's security we have all day long
Longsuffering is Love's patience God gives us to bear
Gentleness is Love's conduct in view everywhere
Faith is Love's confidence we have in our Lord
Meekness is Love's humility — in His strength we're restored
Self control is Love's victory we have our life through
All this fruit is God's sign of Christianity in you
So check out God's Word in the Bible today
Ask Him to help you with this fruit when you pray
For Love is His blessing He has given to you
Our triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit too.
Prayer: Lord, in days of chaos and confusion, we thank You for reminders of the precious words of Scripture which Peter has so poetically presented for us, that Your central message is and always remains — Love! — to love You with all our heart and to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. We find it in Your Word and in the sacrifice of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.
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About the author:
Jim Leith <jimleith@yahoo.ca>
Langley, British Columbia, Canada
Send your feedback to the author
Thanks for sharing, Jim.
Thank you so much. That is beautiful.
Thanks for sharing that beautiful poem.
Thank you for sharing something so special. Thanks again Jim.
An amazing story! One amazing man! Thanks for sharing!
(BC)
Thank you for sharing this, Jim. It is indeed a beautiful way of words.
Blessings.
What a beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing.
I would like permission to use it in my devotion for our Pastoral Committee.
What a beautiful poem, and important message.
Thank you so much for sharing it.
(ON)
Thank you – Yes, the fruit of the spirit is Love,
Love for God and our neighbor.
The fruit of love is joy and peace.
Thank you for sharing this encouraging devotional with us today.
To God be the glory great things God has done … and continues to do.
Blessings.
Thank you, Jim, for sharing that poem written by your brother-in-law, Peter.
His words certainly show his love and honour of our loving Lord. Blessings for your writing today and reflecting on precious memories.
Jim, what a treasure you discovered in finding Peter’s poem! I love the way Peter connected all the fruit with LOVE. Thank you for sharing it and reminding us of treasures we can find in God’s word. If we take the time.
Good morning, Jim,
Thank you for this beautiful poem and another reminder of how much God loves us and how we are to live. I also write poetry and this poem was amazing!!
God bless.
Good morning, Jim. Thank you for sharing this personal part of your family’s story. What a blessing to discover!
I join you in thanking our Father for His work in our lives, including your brother-in-law’s poetry.
Blessings on your day.
Good morning, Jim,
I thank you and your brother-in-law Peter Lea, for this beautiful devotional and accompanying poetry this morning. It is powerful. I have no other words to express how much I appreciate this message today. Peter must have been a very nice person.
Grace and Peace to you and Peter’s family!
Good morning, Jim,
I have also found in the last years that I think I know someone well; however it turns out there is so much about them in different situations that I don’t know. I am an introvert most of the time so the chance that the conversations would broaden are not a lot. It turns out when I am with others that I hear things I have not heard before.
Peter’s poem is very insightful and thoughtful. Thanks for sharing. May we all grow our fruits of the spirit as we go about each day. Blessings.
topped it off.
Our children’s choir used to sing a song entitled The Fruit of the Spirit. Whenever I see or hear that Scripture, I still hear that song in my head but the poem you shared takes it to a completely different level.
I’d appreciate permission to share it, of course giving credit to Peter Lea. To me, it’s the best message I’ve ever heard about the fruit!
The 1st verse is singing the list of the fruit but the 2nd verse goes like this: “You’ll find it in Galatians Chapter 5 verse 22, and when you’re walking close to God this fruit will grow in you, and you’ll have love, joy, peace …
Thanks so much for sharing such a treasure.
Thanks for sharing. A wonderful nighttime reminder before I go to sleep.
Your devotional was an unexpected blessing as I end my day. It’s wonderful you found Peter’s poetry.
Mr Leith,
I’m just now reading your devotional but it ties in perfectly with an article speaking of Christian reaction in these tumultuous days. I thank God that He led you to write this devotional and that he led your brother-in-law to write his poem. And I thank God that He led me to read this and the article! I was already thinking of posting the fruits of the spirit throughout the house and will now post your BIL Peter’s poem!
God bless,
(South Carolina)
Thank you, Jim. What a treasure to your family and our readers.