Fruits of faithfulness grow with patience. To be blessed with such gifts, believers will find joy by seeking hope in the Gospels of Jesus Christ. In their lives they bear witness about the Christian faith, by communicating God’s teachings to others. These are the signs of sincere people in our society. Their seeds planted in hearts will sprout blossoms which bloom in the world.

Rick Pitino (b. 1952), basketball coach, declares, “Humility is the true key to success. Successful people lose their way at times. They often embrace and overindulge from the fruits of success. Humility halts that arrogance and self-indulging trap. Humble people share the credit and wealth, remaining focus and hungry to continue the journey of success.” Christians must resist being cocky, feeling they know it all, and seeing themselves as above it all. Instead, they should share their gifts and gratitude in building people up.

Liberty and Love

At times we’ll face trials. To be free and secured we have to learn to handle setbacks patiently. Reactions to the stresses of life are testimonies to our faith. Focus on Jesus Christ and note how he prevailed against the scribes and Pharisees of his day. He has to be our model for evangelism, in whom we must show our love, faithfulness, and perseverance. These attributes are necessary for us to live as men and women of hope.

Talib Kweli (b. 1975), hip hop recording artist from New York, writes, “I think once you’re in the public eye, whether you’re a boss, a teacher or whatever you do, that you’re automatically in the position of role model. You have people looking up at you, so whether you choose to accept it or not is a different question.” That’s why as Christians we ought to live by showing how much our daily walk with the Lord means.

Joy of Hearts

Helen Keller (1880 – 1968), author, political activist, and lecturer, pointed out, “The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart.” Patience, faithfulness, and perseverance are attributes that are contagious. These gifts are often expressed in the simple courage and joyfulness of faith. To be exuberant, we must be like athletic pilgrims displaying peace and justice wherever we go. In this walk we should transmit mercy and hope.

The Light of Joy

When the going is tough, God’s children will find freedom and joy in most situations. The apostles Peter and Paul proclaim these truths in their calamities. Their episodes should embolden our faith and usher in a renewal of life. They are the bridges that enlighten our encounter with the Holy Spirit, set our flames of hope afire, and proclaim justice to all. But how can we tell we’re living successfully? Swami Sivananda (1863 – 1902), Indian Hindu monk and chief disciple of the 19^th century Saint Ramakrishna, wrote, “Put your heart, mind, and soul into even the smallest acts. This is the secret of success.” Yet, we still find some wishing to do big tasks, when the simple ones they are called to do, go unnoticed. We therefore have to redefine the way we think and know our priorities. Many gifts can be attained through prayers and discernment to know what we’re called to do. By so doing we’ll surely discover the joys of having peaceful minds.