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     “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.  Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).   What is the fruit of the spirit?  The Greek word translated “fruit” refers to the natural product of a living thing.   The fruit of the spirit is produced by the Holy Spirit, not by us.  Just like actual fruit needs time to grow, the fruit of the spirit will not ripen overnight.  A gardener has to fight the weeds in order for the fruit to grow.  The Holy Spirit is our gardener and He has to pull the weeds from our old sin nature.  
     Demonstrating the fruit of the spirit can be difficult, but it is not impossible.  We should demonstrate the fruit of the spirit from home to work and every place in between.  My biggest test is in the workplace.  My supervisor has been nitpicking for a year.  Initially, I thought I was being paranoid or making false accusations.  Nope! Her desire to break me is blatant. It won’t work but she gets an “A” for effort.   She will make a snide remark before she will compliment me or my work.  Sometimes she talks as if she is barking at me.  No self respecting adult wants to be spoken to like a child.  Children do not want to be spoken to in this manner.  Her title has given her the artificial confidence to support bad behavior.          
     We have had few professional disagreements.  However, I demonstrated self control.  I had to explain whenever I ask a question, I am asking for clarification.  She has not learned to distinguish that asking a question is not the same as challenging her authority.   Being in control is one of her many toxic traits.  She holds grudges personally and professionally.  It is a struggle to work under this type of leadership.  Although my flesh would like to choose violence, I choose to demonstrate the fruit of the spirit. Why?  Fruit is evidence of being connected to the vine (John 15:5).