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"But Pappy picked them for us!" 

Our grandchildren, all three of them, love to eat the fruits of our labor: berries, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers - these kids simply love fresh produce. This afternoon, all three came bounding around the house, screen door slamming, dogs in tow, and a fresh cucumber in each of their grubby little hands (they play hard 'round here). "Mammy, can you please peel these? Pappy just gave them to us like this!" 

 As I reached down to take the veggies, I noticed that all three of them had already bitten into the unwashed, unpeeled fruit. And to be honest, once I realized what had happened, I couldn't help myself but to laugh. They were handed something good but blamed their pappy when their inability to wait proved that even something good can have a bitter consequence. And they were ready to pass it off. 

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 The same is true for us and our life's desires. We see something we want and we want it now. And then, after we get it, the consequences of immediate gratification take away the pleasure of obtainment. The allure instantaneously dissolves. Poof. Gone. Vanished. 

 Our grandchildren couldn't wait to bite into their cucumbers only to realize that their inability to wait left a bitter taste in their mouth. And they wanted me to fix it - to make it better - now - and I did. We smiled as they laughed and squealed, munched and ranch-dipped their way to their next adventure...oh, if only we could fix the occasional bitter taste of real life this easily. If we could just peel away the undesirable exposing the best of what life has to offer.

 Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV) reads: "For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end—it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay."  There comes a time in each of our lives when we need to wait, to exercise patience. A time when we have to trust that hope really can become faith and faith really can become sight...for the most part, life is a waiting game...and most of us don't like to wait.

 Consider Hebrews 12:1(b)-2 "And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  These verses are good reminders for us to apply the fruits of the spirit: patience, self-control, forbearance (or long-suffering) to name a few. Folks, I'm willing to bet that, unlike our grandchildren's cucumbers, these fruits won't leave a bitter taste in your mouth.

 Hey, have a blessed Sunday y'all!

 In Christ with love and compassion,

 Coach Kelly
#WVStrong; #BeyondTheMirror; #YourLifeCoachingWV

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