You Can't Grow Good Fruit With Tape! 🍎

Why growing the Fruit of the Spirit in your kids starts with the roots, not just better behavior.

Imagine walking through an apple orchard and spotting a tree covered in big, beautiful, shiny red apples.

Except there's one tiny problem.

Someone DUCT TAPED every single apple to the branches.

DUCT. TAPE.

Would you stand there admiring that tree, thinking, "WOW! Look at all the amazing fruit it's growing!"?

Of course not! The tree didn't grow a single apple!

But I wonder how often we approach raising our kids the same way.

Are We Growing Fruit or Just Taping It On?

"Tell your sister you're sorry!"

"Share your toys!"

"BE NICE!"

"STOP LICKING YOUR BROTHER!"

Sound familiar?

As parents, we spend a lot of time teaching our children how to behave. And that's important! Kids need boundaries, guidance, and opportunities to practice doing what's right.

But here's the question:

Are we helping our children grow genuine fruit, or are we just getting really good at taping it onto their branches?

A child can apologize without understanding why they're sorry.

They can share because they're afraid of losing screen time.

They can sit quietly while secretly plotting their sibling's downfall.

From the outside, everything looks fantastic.

Beautiful apples. Perfectly positioned.

But what's happening at the roots?

The Secret Is in the Roots 🌱

Galatians 5:22–23 describes the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Notice what it's called.

Fruit of the SPIRIT.

Not the fruit of excellent parenting.

Not the fruit of a really impressive sticker chart.

And definitely not the fruit of Mom counting to three!

In John 15, Jesus describes Himself as the vine and us as the branches.

Branches don't produce fruit because someone stands underneath yelling, "GROW MORE GRAPES!"

Fruit grows because the branches are connected to the vine.

And that's the heart of discipleship.

Our ultimate goal isn't simply raising kids who know how to act like Christians.

It's helping them know Jesus, grow in relationship with Him, and learn to live in response to His love.

The Holy Spirit produces the fruit. We get the wonderful responsibility of helping cultivate an environment where spiritual growth is nurtured.

So What Does This Look Like at Home?

It doesn't mean we stop correcting behavior.

It means we look beyond it.

When your child refuses to share, you can still set a boundary. But you can also help them recognize how their actions affect someone else.

When siblings argue, don't just rush to demand an apology. Help them learn what making things right actually looks like(reconciliation).

And remember, kids are still developing! Learning to manage emotions, control impulses, and consider others takes time, practice, and patient guidance.

These everyday moments are opportunities to model the very fruit we're hoping to see grow.

Sometimes the most powerful lesson about patience is watching Mom or Dad model it.

Even when the house looks like a tornado 🌪️ hit a LEGO factory.

A Little Something From the Fruit Stand 🍓

Here's one small thing to try this week.

The next time you find yourself correcting your child's behavior, ask:

"Am I just trying to change what they're doing, or am I helping them understand what's happening in their heart?"

You don't need a complicated lesson.

Just one intentional moment to connect, guide, and point them toward Jesus.

Because we can't manufacture spiritual fruit.

But we can faithfully tend the garden, nurture the roots, and trust the Holy Spirit with the growth.

And maybe leave the duct tape in the junk drawer(it's okay, we all have one).

Speaking of Ridiculous Fruit...

This idea is part of what inspired Super Fruits, our ridiculously fun Christian children's book series filled with superhero fruit, rotten villains, and adventures that help kids discover the Fruit of the Spirit!

Our first book introduces LoveBerry, a superhero strawberry showing kids that love isn't just something we feel.

It's something we DO! ❤️

Because sometimes a silly strawberry can start a really meaningful conversation.

Book 1 is coming soon!

Join the Fruit Force for first access and a sneak peek at LoveBerry's adventure!