Relational Fruits Observed
by Michael Doyle

We are confronted with truth before mercy
The Bible speaks this honestly to me
Leaning into those pressing spaces
As we welcome God's sacred embraces

His Holy Spirit whispers in our ears
Bringing us peace and easing our fears
This creates a healthy tension between flesh and godly ways
As we grow in our discernment throughout our days

Some passages come from the flair and the glare
Among the truths that God gently lays bare
Be it comforts and discomforts of human sexuality
To the avoidance of witchcraft and idolatry

When we crucify the flesh, we aim for our good
It's the fruits of the spirit that must be understood
Both God and the Devil are found in the details
There in the spaces we thrive in in the telling of tales

Sometimes, we need to avoid going with our intuition
As we evolve more spiritually in our constitutions
This is the reclamation that comes with the resurrection
That is soul-revealing of God's holy direction

Part of this comes down to discipline and self-control
Doing what's best for the health and good of the soul
It's not always easy and sometimes counters our desire
But when we persevere, we gain strength and do not tire

Self-control is the choosing of what it is for us not to do
It's the going against those things that we feel compelled to
Yet, we know that these are things God doesn't want us to do
Often this shows up in relational dynamics between me and you

In loving the Lord God, we grow in loving one another
It's the relationship of acting right with each other
Each moment has its opportunities for godly choices
It is up to each of us to listen to the Spirit's voice

As iron sharpens iron, we act to improve each other
Bringing out the best for and within one another
So to is the process of the pressures of contact
Filled with noises commotions of how we act

Sparks will fly in the midst of all this friction
That comes from the acts of this honing repetition
We need to elevate our words and our fortitude
To move things forward with the right attitude

This is not to say we should coddle others through life
Conflicts are often necessary as we grow through the strife
To become stronger and healthy in all of our best ways
That we might consistently live for our better days

God's light will expose us to what will set us free
In being fully blessed and to be truly set free
Purified from our sins as we walk in the light
Lifting each other up from the darkness of the night

True Christian ideals have been found difficult to endure
But it is only the untried truth that grants humanity's cure
It's the only path that provides the better way to end
Knowing the love of God, and sharing it with friends

(c) November 12, 2023   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved