Fruit Smoothies (yummy, yummy)

Note: this post was originally written on 7/31/19... also I highly suggest you read the title above to the rhythm of "Fruit Salad" by The Wiggles. Happy Reading!

Lately, I’ve been on a fruit smoothie craze because my grandma (aka the G.O.A.T), gifted me a Ninja Blender. So naturally, after a week and a half of making smoothies everyday, it came time to replenish my fruit supply. Even though my parents are amazing human beings who normally buy groceries for the house, me and my impatient self decided to immediately buy the fruit on my own. So, I went to the store and picked up frozen strawberries, bananas, and some juice. The next morning, I made a decent smoothie and then left for a retreat. Three days later when I arrived home, that's when things got juicy (pun completely intended).

I set my bags down on the kitchen counter, looked to my right, and saw my bananas (which I had repeatedly dropped on accident, oops) completely bruised and mushy. Sounds gross, I know. But then I looked past my disgruntled plantains and what do I see? Four fresh, yellow, ripe bananas in a bunch on the counter... bananas that my parents had bought. But it doesn't stop there. I opened the fridge and was greeted by a huge container of fresh gourmet strawberries, strawberries way better than my frozen ones...that my parents had bought. Not to mention, I found pineapples sweeter than Spongebob's humble abode hiding in the pantry... pineapples my parents had so graciously bought! So I took the ingredients, all provided by my loving guardians, and made a bomb smoothie that the subpar fruits I purchased could never compare to. And that’s when it hit me. God is like my parents. Well, truly vice versa, my parents were reflecting God, but let me explain...

I am going to start by unveiling the metaphor of this post. When I refer to fruit, I am not really referring to apples and bananas, and when I refer to smoothies I am not referring to a puree of mangos and yogurt. I am referring to fruits as Christian-like attributes and to smoothies as the good works that result from implementing them in daily life.

After all, "a developing Christian character is fruit. If the goal of the Christian life may be stated as Christlikeness, then surely every trait developed in us that reflects His character must be fruit that is very pleasing to Him" (Bible.org).

Time and time again, I try to use my own mediocre 'fruit' to make mediocre smoothies and do mediocre things...when in reality, the best fruits I could possibly use to do great things come from the Lord.

For "the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control"

Galatians 5:22

In fact, Jesus says “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser". And no, he is not referring to this type of Vine...

He is referring to vines that bare branches that bare fruit. We are the branches. And to bear fruit we must be connected to the Vine.

"Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

John 15:1-17

I am called to abide in Jesus, and when I live my life to glorify him, it is more fruitful and delicious than I could ever imagine. God has gracefully given me all of the spiritual gifts and skills I need to accompany these fruits; now I just have use them! (1 Corinthians 12)

So, if you are ever given the choice between making a fruit smoothie by yourself and having the Creator of the universe make it for you... choose the latter. For a smoothie made out of the fruits of the spirit is a smoothie that will more than satisfy the taste buds; it will satisfy the soul.

Love,

Erica

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"Taste and see that the Lord is good!" Psalm 34:8