Today, I Choose Goodness

Today, I choose goodness. I'm not always good, but I still choose it. I'm sure many of you can relate to this. I will never forget picking up my kindergartener from school one day only to receive a glowing report about how well she behaved every day! By the time we reached home, I was confident they had put the wrong child in my car because the little one sitting in the backseat of my Jeep and now entering the house was indeed an imposter. I saw nothing "good" about how she was now behaving. A little flustered yet curious about her Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde behavior transition from the school pick-up line to our home, I asked her about the sudden behavior change that began to surface when her teacher was out of sight. She matter-of-factly replied, "I'm tired of being good!"

My initial reaction was to scold her and question why I wasn't seeing the 'good' child her teacher described. Instead, I took a moment to breathe and tapped into what I like to call the '24-hour spiritual hotline for mamas with small children'- a symbolic connection to a real higher power, God, that helps me navigate parenting challenges. At that moment, I realized the answer resonated deeply with me.

Sometimes, I, too, grew tired of "being good." I tried to answer the call of being a good mommy, cook, housekeeper, wife, teacher, and the list could have gone on. But then, I realized that "being good" meant measuring myself by my performance. This was a turning point in my personal and parenting growth journey.

I thought about this. There was a difference between "being good" and possessing the quality of goodness. Goodness is a fruit of the Spirit evidenced in the life of believers. It is a deep-abiding God-given gift.

Goodness compels us to honorably and willingly persevere or continue in Christ's strength when we feel like giving up while "being good" screams, "Perform!" The fruit of goodness goes well beyond any performance. It's a passion that drives how we live and respond in our relationships with others. This is the true essence of goodness, a virtue available to believers. It abides within us and is independent of our self-efforts.

As the scripture says, '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.' This verse from Galatians 5:22-23 encapsulates the essence of goodness as a fruit of the Spirit, a divine quality that is not bound by any earthly laws or expectations.

I would have lost heart unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the Lord

In the land of the living.

Psalm 27:13

Today, I choose goodness.

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