Growing Good Fruit in Our Family: The Long Game of Faith

As we step into this new summer season with our Sunshine & Spirit series, we’re reminded that faith, much like summer fruit, takes time to grow. Just as the days stretch longer, so does our journey with God—one small step at a time, one fruit of the Spirit at a time.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be exploring the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23, learning how God's Holy Spirit cultivates love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in our lives. And as we explore these qualities, it’s important to remember that spiritual growth isn’t always quick or flashy. It’s a process—sometimes slow and steady—but always Spirit-led.

Fruit Grows in God’s Time, Not Ours
When we think about spiritual growth, especially in our kids, it’s easy to focus on the big moments—the moments of excitement, celebration, and clear “wins.” But often, growth in our faith comes in the quiet, everyday moments: when we choose patience in a frustrating situation, when we show kindness even when it's hard, when we remember to share a joyful word of encouragement.

As parents, it’s easy to wonder if the seeds of faith are really taking root. Is anything happening?

But here’s the truth: even when it feels like growth is slow, God is always at work. The Holy Spirit is the gardener, tending to our hearts and growing His fruit in His perfect timing. Your children are learning to reflect God’s love through every little act of kindness and patience, even when you don’t immediately see the results.

A Family Reflection for the Start of Summer
At the beginning of our Sunshine & Spirit journey, let's take a moment to reflect together as a family on the growth we’re hoping to see this summer. While we won’t see the full fruit ripen overnight, it’s helpful to talk about the small moments where we want to see God at work.

Family Discussion Guide:
“What are some ways we can grow in the Fruit of the Spirit this summer?”

Talk through each of the fruits—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control—and reflect on which ones you’d like to see God grow in your hearts this summer. It could be something as simple as showing more kindness to one another or practicing patience in moments of frustration.

This is a great time to make it hands-on with some fun activities:

• Create a “Fruit of the Spirit” tree or poster and add a new “fruit” every time you notice one of these qualities growing in your family.
• Try journaling your experiences together—what moments helped you grow in love or joy this week?
• Make a commitment as a family to pray for the Spirit’s help in growing each fruit.

A Reminder: Growth is a Journey, Not a Race
As we journey through this summer and explore the ways the Holy Spirit helps us grow, remember that growth takes time. There’s no rush. God works in the quiet and the stillness, and sometimes, that’s where we see the most meaningful changes.

So, let’s celebrate every small step forward. Let’s trust the process and stay faithful to the work God is doing in our hearts and in the hearts of our kids. Even when we don’t see it all, we can trust that God is working through the power of the Holy Spirit to grow us all into something beautiful.

Fruit doesn’t ripen overnight—but it’s always worth the wait.

So, let’s enjoy the journey together. Let’s embrace the process, trust the growth, and see how God will work in our lives this summer.