Warm light sinks slightly below the dunes as we reach the slopped edge of the sun-sketched mountain of sand.
To my left, I spot a fellow wanderer hiking the dune’s sunken ridge line. I dipped down slightly, reaching into my right pocket for my phone, and quickly snapped this photo without hesitation.
The day is August 18, 2018, around six in the afternoon, and the sun is still swollen in the sky. My mother and I are standing in the mesmerizing White Sands National Park in Southern Colorado.
This is by far one of the most beautiful national parks I have ever visited and I highly recommend a visit.
It’s magical seeing miles and miles of enormous sand dunes scattered right below the vibrant, tree-covered Rocky Mountains and next to the brilliant blue Lake Lucero.
You can rent waxed sand boards and sleds at the entrance to lug up the steep, sliding dunes or climb to the top much faster than the sand toy-carrying wanderers. And wander you will, for there’s no real destinationat Great Sand Dunes National Park, only the one you have set in mind and care to reach.
For those who do choose to use a sandboard or sled, remember to use a lot of the wax provided, it will slide across the sand much better.
Some parts of the sand are harder packed than others, so a fall will feel like being punched by a pro boxer, trust me, I thought I broke my tailbone on one fall!
Luckily, I’m practically made out of stainless steel, so I walked out, or I should say slid out without as much pain to my body as there was to my ego.
As we walked out of the park, exchanging stories of other dunes we visited while living in the Middle East, my mother and I took one look back at the gorgeous, toppling sand as the sun said its farewell and slipped out of sight, returning darkness to the Earth and coolness to our sunburnt faces.
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“But the Fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law. And the greatest of these is love, for all things abide in love, and all things must have love; for without love, no relationship would exist.” – Galatians 5:22
Whether or not you believe in God or ascertain to Christianity, the Bible is a grand book filled to the brim with wisdom and life lessons applicable to every one of us.
For example, this verse in Galatians lays out the foundation for an intentional, purposeful life.
It’s quite logical that without love, no purposeful life would exist and no relationship would exist either (unless transactional, which I’d argue is no relationship worth holding).
Defining each fruit of the spirit for ourselves provides a better grip on their meaning with the intention of including them in our lives.
I firmly believe that all of these fruits are able to grow in us if their seeds are planted at birth. They may already be abundant and ripe in your own life today.
Below are definitions of each fruit, my personal definition, a question, and examples of how to include them in our lives.
Love
An emotion of a strong attraction and personal attachment.
A virtue representing human kindness, compassion, and affection.
The unselfish loyal and benevolent concern for the good of another.
Compassionate and affectionate actions towards others and towards one’s self.
Love is driving three hours to visit a sibling in the hospital without the slightest hesitation. It is the most innate expression we humans possess, a gift that has profound impact. What does love look like to you? Show a friendly smile, lend a helping hand, or give your time and attention to someone in need. This is love.
Joy
A feeling of great pleasure and happiness.
The natural reaction to the work of God, Higher Power, or Creator, whether promised or fulfilled.
Joy expresses God’s kingdom and influence on earth.
Joy is a grin from ear to ear for no apparent reason whatsoever. What people, places, or things make you joyful and jubilant? Write down three things you’re grateful for each day, and tell them to a person you admire in your life. This is Joy.
Peace
Freedom from disturbance; quiet and tranquility.
An occurrence of harmony characterized by lack of violence, conflict behaviors, and the freedom from fear of violence.
The absence of hostility and retribution.
Peace is fear and worry washed away like the receding tide. What can provide a peace that surpasses all comprehension? To calm the body and mind, breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth several times. This is Peace.
Patience
The ability to wait, or to continue doing something despite difficulties.
To suffer without complaining or becoming annoyed.
Patience is the contentment in waiting on a loved one for hours and then exclaiming with a smile, are you ready? How can you show patience today? Next time you’re waiting for someone or something, notice your immediate environment with curiosity, what do you see, hear, smell, and taste? This is Patience.
Kindness
The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate
A behavior marked by ethical characteristics.
A pleasant disposition and concern for others.
Kindness is the simple act of sharing a smile while passing by a stranger. It should not be understated, especially in these tumultuous times. What is a random act of kindness feel like to you? Give someone a genuine compliment, open the door for someone, or bake a loaf of banana bread for your neighbor. This is Kindness
Goodness
The quality of being good, in particular: virtue; moral excellence, qualities of character or conduct that entitle the possessor to approval and esteem.
Goodness is the simple word for the general quality recognized in character or conduct.
Goodness is listening deeply to your conscience. What makes something right or wrong to you? When you next consider the implications of a choice, consult a true friend or therapist before deciding. This is Goodness.
Faithfulness
True, devoted, staunch, constant, and loyal behavior.
Implies qualities of stability, dependability, and devotion.
A long-continued and steadfast fidelity to whatever one is bound to by a pledge, duty, or obligation.
Faithfulness is the overwhelming feeling of gratitude expressed when you are loyal to a friend for years. Who is that person in your life? Commit to being there for a friend the next time they request your assistance. This is Faithfulness.
Gentleness
To be mild in temperament or behavior; kind or tender.
To be noble or having the qualities attributed to noble birth; courteous; chivalrous.
Gentleness is the care of a mother for her child as it sleeps soundly in her arms. How can you show a gentle gesture today? Provide some words of encouragement, give someone a hug, or listen intently in your next conversation. This is Gentleness.
Self-control
The ability to control oneself, in particular one’s emotions and desires, or the expression of them in one’s behavior.
Self-control is the release of anger despite the inclination to lash out at your coworker for not doing their job. How can you show self-control in the next difficult situation? Write down how you feel when you feel (no really, it makes a massive difference). This is Self-control.
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The only genuine way I know to start this post is to describe my own mother and the unsurmountable influence she has had in my life, through the delicate medium of words and photography.
My mother had a saying that always reflected her firm commitment to her faith and reminds me to this day to let go when all seems lost:
“God is good all the time, all the time God is good.”
She chose to accept that the goodness of God is always there, especially when we don’t see it. She would say that all the shit we experience in life, that it isn’t God, it’s the world, though we frequent the notion God is responsible for most of our troubles.
It’s hard to describe the impact and influence of a good mother. My mother, Diane Jane Elston, is a rare force for good in this world. She speaks with kindness, listens without judgment, and moves with deliberation.
Her influence on me cannot be understated. She has helped shape who I am, and I will forever be grateful for that.
Growing up, my mother would take me on all kinds of adventures: skiing, hiking, biking, running, swimming, and pretty much anything outdoors. She wanted me to experience everything she loved, and started when I wasn’t even able to walk.
My mother grew up in the unforgiving Arizona desert and went to college in Colorado, where there was a lot of room and encouragement for outdoor activity.
She also grew up with two brothers that were always daring her to do something stupid, which led to many visits to the hospital, but also a go-get-it attitude that I can say I’ve partially inherited (minus the hospital visits luckily).
In fact, my mother has had so many accidents in her life, that she could probably recall twenty off the top of her head. For example, one time she had a full-sized stingray barb go clean through her foot! Exciting eh! Or another time she fell down a full flight of marble stairs, encasing her head in the drywall, losing her sense of taste and smell instantly (it was a frightful time for the whole family).
Even more frightening and a true test of faith for my mother and the whole family was when she spent half a year in hospitals with stage three cervical carcinoma cancer, teetering on the brink of death.
Still she said, “God is good all the time, all the time God is good.”
Just hearing these stories makes me feel so grateful I’m not in her shoes, free of the many injuries or maladies she has experienced.
Even through it all though, my mother’s warm and accepting demeanor might make breaking every bone worth trading places.
My mother was more than a wild, fun explorer, she was also a writer (admittedly a more experienced and successful one than me).
As a young mother of three, while studying to become a speech therapist, my mother wrote the most captivating children’s book inspired by her two young, rambunctious nephews.
In the story, the two explorative brothers build a rocket, travel deep into space, discover strange worlds, meet friendly aliens, and find the meaning of life for themselves (basically every child’s dream).
The story was so captivating that as a child, upon falling asleep I would vividly dream of the same adventure, lost in a blissful state of space exploration.
One day, I intend to get it published, because it’s way too good not to be read by millions of children (and parents).
In the photos above, I wanted to display my mother as I have seen her over the years.
In one photo, we had just climbed Manitou Springs in Garden of the Gods, Colorado. I instinctually snap a quick photo before finding the shade of a nearby tree to picnic under.
The incline is, well, not an easy one, and according to my mother, there is no “slow” hiking. As I mentioned, my mother has been taking me on hikes and adventures my whole life, either on her back or by her side.
Nowadays, I can beat her up the mountain with no trouble, but I would rather stay by her side too.
In another photo, my mother is with my father in the hospital fighting cancer, still holding on to a bright smile even through suffering intense pain. You see, my mother has never been scared of death, she has a faith like none I’ve ever witnessed before.
She says, “For those who don’t believe, no proof is possible and for those who believe, no proof is necessary.”
In many of the photos you see this same bright smile and genuine kindness.
I wish the whole world could meet my Mom, though she’s never been one for the limelight, she’s just a simple natured giver that prefers one on one interactions.
Even so, I hope I was able to capture just some of that nature in this post and share it with the world.
Thank you deeply for your time and attention reading this post, it is a rare gift these days. Feel free to comment, like, or share it. You can also support me by Buying Me A Coffee. Thank you in advance!
