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But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. KJV
GOODNESS
Today we will look at the fruit of goodness. We will start with the Greek meaning and then use the dictionary.
Goodness – agathosune (ag-ath-o-soo’-nay): beneficence
Beneficent means, doing good or causing good to be done; charitable.
Charitable means, generous in gifts to aid the indigent, ill, homeless, etc. Kindly or lenient in judging people.
Doing good or causing good to be done…
This is something that can bring much joy to not only us but others as well. Simple acts of kindness are a nice way to show goodness. Here are some ideas to get you started. Don’t stop with these. By all means come up with your own. The important thing to learn here is to do kind things and show goodness as often as possible. Please take the time to read these ideas. I have made four categories. You may find some that you know are speaking to you…
Some people have more money than others. So, I have put free, cheap, moderate, and pricey ideas here. You know what you can do.
Goodness For Friends, Family, and Strangers:
- Smile
- Pay the toll of the driver behind you.
- Buy a person or family their food anonymously when your eating out.
- Bring your cart back inside when your finished at the grocery store.
- When you see something out of place while shopping, take the time to put it back.
- Help sponsor missions trips.
- Give a bigger tip when the service is bad.
- Offer to help an elderly person when you see them struggling.
- Give when you see a need instead of ignoring it.
- Open the door for someone.
- Give a compliment.
- Say thank you.
- Pay the electric bill of someone you know would benefit from it.
- Pay someone’s rent or mortgage.
- Clean your area up when you go out to eat.
- Visit a nursing home.
- Give a gift certificate to that nice cashier you see every week.
- Listen…I mean really listen.
- Mow your neighbors grass
- Call someone you never call.
- Write someone you care for that lives far away.
- Give to that beggar you see.
- Or better yet, go buy him a meal. You will never forget the gratitude in his eyes. I promise.
- Instead of trying to get money for those old clothes, give them to the needy.
- Sponsor a needy child at Christmas. (I was one of them and some person made my Christmas that year. I would have gotten nothing.)
- Tell someone your sorry…first.
Goodness For Your Husbands:
- Pack his lunch everyday instead of him fending for himself.
- Rub his feet after a long day…and shower. LOL.
- Lay his work clothes out for him.
- Put the kids to bed early and take him to bed…if you know what I mean…
- Thank him.
- Do the laundry.
- Tell him he is the sexiest most wonderful husband in the universe. say something great like this to him EVERY day. They need this and it is our job to do it. No matter what.
- Do what you know he would really appreciate being done…(example: clean ;)
- Show interest in things that he enjoys.
- Honor him with your words and actions.
- Respect him.
- Submit to his authority.
- Tell the truth.
- Compliment and edify him a LOT!
- Offer to give him a massage.
- Make his favorite dinner.
Goodness For Your Children:
- Play with them
- If you have more than one child…take one on a date one week and the other the next and so on…It doesn’t have to cost a dime just your time. Pack a lunch and go to the park…
- Listen to them. get down on their level and look them in the eye when they are talking to you. They need to know you care. And the best way to show that is to listen. It makes them feel special and important to you.
- Pack a love note in their lunch box.
- Buy them that special toy they have been wanting.
- Compliment them. We can spend so much time correcting that we never tell them what they really need to hear. They need constant compliments and reassurance. For every correction we should have at least to positive things to say.
- Make them a “Worlds Greatest Son/Daughter” Banner or award certificate. Write out all of their positive qualities and present it to them in a special way. My husband and I did this for our oldest daughter a couple of years ago and she still has it hanging over her bed!
Goodness For You…Yeah You:
- Get a hobby and spend at least two hours a week doing it with no kids or husband. Just you or a group that is doing the same hobby.
- Take a long hot bath when the kids go to bed.
- Get a pedicure.
- Take a walk by yourself once in a while.
- Pray
- Put some make up on and fix your hair more often. You’ll feel better.
- When you have a little extra money don’t always be so practical. It’s OK to buy yourself something once in a while.
- Smile, you’ll age better.
- Laugh more, you’ll stay healthy.
- Give yourself a break. YOU ARE A GOOD MOTHER!
Let’s pray,
Daddy God, thank You for all of the goodness You have shown me in my life. Help me to have eyes to see and ears to hear the needs of others. Help me to find creative ways to show kindness to people around me. Help me to let Your light shine. Help me to be a living example of Your Great Goodness. Thank You. In Jesus Mighty Name, Amen.
In His Love and Service,
Lara ;)
Copyright © Lara Velez, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved
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