How it works
This story has a made-up girl named Noa and her grandpa in an orchard. Grandpa tells how Jesus once said he is the vine and his friends are the branches.
A branch cannot make grapes alone, so it must stay joined to the vine. Jesus said the gardener trims the branches so they grow more fruit.
Grandpa said that Paul wrote that the Spirit grows fruit in people too. It is not fruit you eat, but nine good ways of living: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
In the story each one shows up in a small moment of Noa's day, such as a cup of water or a plum that takes time to ripen.
Worked examples
Say the nine
- Say them slowly: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
- There are nine in all.
- Count them on your fingers to check.
A plum takes time
- The green plum was hard, and Noa wanted it now.
- Grandpa said to wait, because good fruit takes time.
- Day by day it turned yellow, then red, then deep purple. Waiting calmly is patience.