Who is on Your Team?
No matter what our walk in life, we all need a team that believes in us and is rooting for us. Generally this is not a large group of people–the real die-hard, thick and thin team.
One of the beliefs I live with comes from a song of Steve Winwood’s: “When there’s no one left to leave you and even you can’t quite believe you–that is when nothing can deceive you.”
I live with the rule of the shiny faces–if your face lights up when you see me coming, then I want to spend time with you. But if only your lips smile then I don’t hang around. Sadly, I used to try to get the approval of the faces who didn’t light up. What a waste of time and effort that was.
Mentors/Guides/Healers/Sponsors
When You Find the Buddha in the Middle of the Road–Kill Him is the wise title of a good book by Sidney Kopp. No one knows what is better for anyone but that person. We each have our own answers. Even those trained in counseling techniques can only see what is revealed. Tendencies may be seen and certainly personality indicators will be there. But the work of change is a person’s individual choice.
Fruits of the Spirit
How do you know that someone–regardless of age–is spiritual? Certainly not because they say they are. The best evaluation is to see the fruits of the Spirit manifested by them. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, patience, faithfulness, goodness, longsuffering and gentleness as listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
Humility
How do you know that someone–regardless of age–is spiritual? Certainly not because they say they are. The best evaluation is to see the fruits of the Spirit manifested by them. The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, kindness, self-control, patience, faithfulness, goodness, longsuffering and gentleness as listed in Galatians 5:22-23.
I have liked what you have written Kathy.