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Fruit of the Spirit


peach Gentleness - Kindnesspeach
The Beauty and the Beast of the Bible

by Sophia Prinsloo

Text Version | Afrikaans | Italian


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The fruit of the spirit is kindness and gentleness Downhearted, Erica sat on the bleachers and watched as her teammates from the Green School played hockey against the Red School. She was very sad because she wasn't on the team too, although she had scored quite a few goals for her school before.

During school vacation, bullies in the neighborhood had broken her hockey stick. Her parents did not have enough money to buy her a new stick so she was forced to give up playing hockey.

“Look! Kaylyn has shot a goal again!” She sighed and thought about what had happened at school the previous day. Kaylyn just asked her why she did not play hockey anymore, but Erica had scolded her and grumpily walked away. She knew she had hurt Kaylyn, but she did not want her teammates to know that her family was poor and that her parents could not afford a new hockey stick. Actually, Erica felt very bad and guilty about it, but she did not know what else to do.

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“Green, Green, Green School!” the children on the bleachers cheered loudly when the girl's hockey team of the Green School won the match. Not even the win could make Erica happy again. She watched as Kaylyn and the team came running towards her. “Uh-uh! There is no way out now. They are surely going to be mean to me, like I was mean to them yesterday,” she thought worriedly.

With a large, kind smile on her face Kaylyn stopped in front of Erica. “Erica, I really would like to give you something. Here is the hockey stick that shot the winning goal today. If you don't mind, I really want to give it to you. I have another one at home. It may not be new, but will you please accept it from me?”

For a moment Erica was dumbfounded, but first she felt she had to come clean and said, “Kaylyn, I am very sorry that I was so mean to you yesterday! Will you please forgive me?”

“Of course!” Kaylyn said. “Because Jesus was so kind to forgive me for all my wrongs, I can forgive you!” All the other teammates agreed.

“Then I will gladly accept this hockey stick! You have made my day. Congratulations on your great win!” Erica said with a huge smile.

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A beautiful, wise woman from Maon, named Abigail, was working hard to prepare a big feast for her husband and his friends for that evening. She and her maidservants were baking bread, frying wheat, making clusters of raisins and cakes of figs, while her menservants prepared the meat. It would be a feast fit for a king.

Abigail was busy making bread Her husband, Nabal, was neither handsome nor wise, but he was very rich and had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats. Each year when Nabal sheared his sheep in Karmel, wool merchants came from everywhere to buy wool from him, making him became even richer.

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In the distance, Abigail suddenly noticed a streak of dust coming towards them. “Who could that be?” she wondered. “Nabal is in the field checking on the shearing of his sheep and he won't be back home until tonight. I just hope it is good news!”

While Abigail took out more loaves of bread from the oven, a breathless messenger arrived. “Bring him some water, a loaf of bread and some of the fruit,” she ordered one of her maidservants.

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The messenger was one of Nabal's servants. “My lady,” he gasped. “My lady! We are in big trouble!”

“Calm down, young man. Catch your breath and tell me what happened,” Abigail told him caringly.

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He told her, “While we were watching the sheep here in Karmel, we were very afraid of stock-thieves. However, David and his men were so kind. They stayed with us the whole time, protecting and watching over us. They were like a wall around us night and day. They neither insulted us and nor stole anything from us.”

David sent men to Nabal The messenger wiped away the sweat from his brow. “When Nabal brought the shearers to shear the sheep, David sent ten men to him to ask about his health on his behalf. They gave Nabal a friendly greeting and wished him all the best. Then they also asked Nabal if he would give them some of his food provisions. You yourself know that food is scarce in this barren land and David and his men deserved to receive something from Nabal for all the good things they did for him.”

A frown clouded the messenger's face. “But Nabal was very unfriendly. He railed against David and his men, insulting them and flatly refused to give them anything, not even water, or bread, or meat. Nothing!”

“Oh, no! What happened then?” Abigail asked with wide eyes.

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The young man went on with a troubled look on his face, “When David's men told him what Nabal said, he immediately became furious because Nabal treated them badly for all the good work they had done. David commanded four hundred of his men to gird their swords and go, fight against Nabal and us, his servants. Two hundred of his men stayed with the pack-animals to guard them.”

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The messenger anxiously shook his head. “Nabal is so headstrong that he thinks he can do what he wants and treat people badly without consequences. He thinks we will defeat David, but we are not soldiers. We are afraid.” He pleaded, “My lady, you must do something; otherwise, we all will be dead by tomorrow.”

Immediately, Abigail knew what to do. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two bags of wine, five measures of fried wheat, a hundred clusters of raisins, two hundred cakes of figs, and five slaughtered sheep and loaded it all on donkeys. She turned to the young messenger and said, “Take us to David.”

In the meantime, she sent her menservants ahead with the loaded donkeys and told them, “Go! I am following directly behind you.” To her maidservants, she said, “Tell Nabal nothing,” and with that she climbed onto her donkey and departed down the mountain. She was in a gorge when David and his men suddenly came upon them.

Abigail brought food to David and his men When Abigail saw him, she immediately recognized David by his handsome, ruddy appearance. She quickly dismounted from the donkey and fell down before his feet and said, “Blame me, my lord, but please listen to what I want to say. Nabal is a fool, just as his name means, and the Lord will judge him. Please accept this present from me and don't let us all be punished for Nabal's mistake.”

When David saw the beautiful woman pleading before him for mercy, his anger immediately subsided. He was very impressed with Abigail, especially when she said, “I know that the Lord protects you against all your enemies and that He will avenge you against them. I also know that one day, you will become King of Israel. Then you will want a clean conscience and not the guilty conscience of a murderer. When you are king, please think of me and do good to me.”

David answered her, “Thank you so much for your presents. I thank God that He has sent you here today to prevent me from doing wrong and seeking revenge. Go back home in peace, without being afraid that I will kill your husband.”

Abigail got up very glad and relieved and headed home. When she arrived home, she discovered her husband was feasting with all his men. He was drunk as a skunk and that evening, she told him nothing of what she had done.

It was only the next day that she told him about the food provisions she gave to David. Nabal grew so angry that he had a stroke right there and then, and became paralyzed. For ten days he could not move and then he had another attack and died.

When David heard that Nabal was dead, he got anxious about Abigail. Just as she had asked, he thought about her and then sent messengers to ask her to marry him. She was very glad and immediately got ready, climbed on her donkey, took five maidservants with her, and went to David where she became his wife.



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REMEMBER:

When you find it hard to be kind to someone else, you must remember Jesus' great kindness toward you.



THINK!

1. What was Abigail preparing for Nabal's feast? Name at least one dish.
2. How was David and his men kind to Nabal's servants?
3. Did Nabal return their kindness?
4. Who changed David's mind about attacking and killing Nabal and doing wrong?
5. How did Abigail convince David not to seek revenge on Nabal?

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A VERSE TO LEARN

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

ALTERNATE VERSE TO LEARN

“And be kind to one another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave us”
(Ephesians 4:32).



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PRACTICAL APPLICATION

To understand more about gentleness and kindness, take time to study about good manners and learn how to be polite. Being a gentleman or a young lady is more than just wearing neat clothing. It's about making people around you feel better about themselves. It's about giving grace to others when needed and knowing how to stand up for those who cannot do it for themselves.

Have you been unkind to a sibling or parent, or friend or other person? Was there a reason you acted that way? It's high time to have a change of heart, ask forgiveness and be kind instead. God longs to help you with that, if you’ll only stop and ask Him. Name some ways to be kind to others.

[After discussion:] Just as Abigail was kind to David, God wants you to treat others gently, showering them with kindness. Jesus showed you real kindness when He gave Himself as your Savior and chose you to become his child. As a child who loves his father and imitates Him, God wants you to love and imitate Him by gently showing kindness to your parents, siblings, family, friends and those whom God sends into your life. Let your gentle kindness shine as a bright light in this dark world.



LET'S PRAY

Dog and boy praying

****************************************************
Heavenly Father, forgive me for being unkind. Teach
me ways to let gentle kindness shine as a bright
light in this dark world. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
****************************************************


CAN YOU FIND THIS STORY IN THE BIBLE?

1 Samuel 25:1-44
Galatians 5:19-26

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STORIES IN THIS SERIES:

The Fruit of the Spirit
Love
Joy
Peace
Longsuffering/Patience
Gentleness/Kindness
Goodness
Faith
Meekness/Humility
Temperance/Self-Control

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coloring

Nabal Refused to Give Food
Fruit of Gentleness Coloring Page
Bible Heroes Coloring Book--ages 2-4
Coloring: Gentleness
Foolish Nabal and Wise Abigail coloring sheet
Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness Coloring Page
Abigail coloring page
David and Abigail coloring page (print)
David and Abigail color online (online)
Showing Kindness coloring page

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Fruit of the Spirit Coloring Page (online)
Fruit of the Spirit by Name Coloring Page (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Basket (online)
God Wants Us to Bear Good Fruit (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Tree (online)
Fruit Bowl (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Reproducible Coloring Book

Action Bible Coloring Book
Coloring Through the Bible (online)
Beginner's Bible Super-Duper Mighty Jumbo Coloring Book
Bible Stories Kids Love Coloring Book (ages 2 to 4)
Big Book of Bible Story Coloring Pages for Elementary Kids

God Loves You Coloring Book:
A Read-aloud Coloring Book About God's Plan for Salvation


Jesus Loves Me, This I Know, Coloring Book
My Bible Coloring Book
My Gospel Story by Colors--Activity Book
My Jumbo Bible Story Coloring Book
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Coloring & Art
The Super-Sized Book of Bible Verse Coloring Pages
Children's Bible Coloring Books


stories

A Little Girl After God's Own Heart: Learning God's Ways in My Early Days
A Woman of Good Understanding
Choosing Kindness
David Meets Abigail (read online)
David, Nabal and Abigail (read online)
Deborah/Abigail Flip-Over Book
God, I Need to Talk to You about Bad Manners
Happy Day Books, Level 1: A Child's Book Of Manners
I Can Be Kind
King David (comics)
Little Bible Heroes: Abigail (board book)
Lolli and Pop Find Kindness: The Fruit of the Spirit Series
Manga Melech: Manga #4, King David
Power Bible: Bible Stories to Impart Wisdom, # 4 - David, Israel's Great King
The Action Bible: Heroes and Villains
The Berenstain Bears: Kindness Counts
The Kind Koala: The Fruit of the Spirit Collection, Book 5
365 Manners Kids Should Know

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Adventures of Heart Longing:
An Allegory of the Fruit of the Spirit


Cutie Fruities: Scratch'n'Sniff and Glitter!
Fruit of the Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Collection eBook
Fruit of the Spirit Arch Book
Fruit of the Spirit Stories For Children (online)
God Counts Series: 9 Fruits Alive
Life Is an Adventure with Ernie

Living As God's Girl: Your One-of-a-Kind
Guide to the Fruit of the Spirit


The Fruit of the Spirit (online)


Beginner's Bible
Beginner's Bible for Little Ones
Bible in Pictures For Toddlers
Bible stories
Children's Books
Early Reader's Bible
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs w/2 CD
Pilgrim's Progress Comic
Spanish Children's Books

365 Activities For Kids:
A Bible Story And Activity For Each Day Of The Year


365 Read-Aloud Bedtime Bible Stories
The Children's Illustrated Bible
The Picture Bible (also in Spanish)
The Preschooler's Bible
Toddler's Bible


activities

Fill in the Blanks (KJV)
Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Abigail's Offering
Bean Bag Game
Foolish Nabal and Wise Abigail crossword puzzle
Foolish Nabal and Wise Abigail word search
Kids' Church Ideas (online)
Nabal, David and Abigail discussion questions
Games for Abigail story
Kids Of Integrity - Gentleness activities
Worksheet

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Jigsaw Puzzle (online)
Story Cards To Keep and Share (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit activities (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bingo Game (online)
Fruit Puzzle (online)
Fruits of the Spirit Dominoes
Online Word Search (online)
Word Search (online)
Memory Match (online)
Faith That Sticks: Fruit Of The Spirit Stickers
Teacher Created: Fruit Of The Spirit Stickers
The Fruit of the Spirit Spinning Top Game & Puzzle Sheet

Best Book of Bible Activities
Bible Puzzles: Word Search
Big Book Of Bible Puzzles
Big Book Of Bible Story Activity Pages V1
Bingo (online)
Children's Activity Books
Children's Puzzles
Christian and educational toys
Crossword Books
Encyclopedia Of Bible Games For Children's Ministry
Games
Jumbo Bible Activity Book 4
Memory Verse Games for Kids
Sticker Books
The Humongous Book of Games for Children's Ministry
The Super Sized Book of Bible Puzzles


songs

Be Kind (online)
Be Kind and Compassionate (online)
Be Kind to One Another (online)
Be Ye Kind (online)
Show a Little Bit of Love and Kindness (online)
Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD—Gentleness
Show A Little Bit Of Love and Kindness (online)
Thy Lovingkindess Is Better Than Life (online)

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Fruit of the Spirit (sheet music/MP3) (online)
I Want To Be Like Jesus (sheet music/MP3) (online)
Donut Man: Fruit Of The Spirit
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit Of The Spirit [Children of Faith Split Trax Music Download]
Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1 & 2 CD (Steve Green)
Integrity Kids: Fruit of the Spirit [Music Download]
Fruit of the Spirit by Maranatha Kids (online)
Fruit of the Spirit [Brentwood Music Download]
Fruit of the Spirit Cadence (online)
Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD
Spencer Family: The Fruit of the Spirit (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit — Donut Man (listen online)
The Fruit of The Spirit Song/MP3/CHORDS (online)

The Fruit Of The Spirit - Galatians 5:22 & 25
[Steve Green Music Download]


The Fruit of the Spirit Song (online)

100 Ways To Know God Loves Me & 100 Songs
100 Bible Stories 100 Bible Songs
Action Bible Songs
Bible Songs on CD
Bible Songs on DVD
150 All-Time Favorite Veggietunes
100 Singalong Bible Songs For Kids

Platinum Bible Collection of Classic Christian Songs on DVD
The Bible in a Minute (online)

25 Favorite Sunday School Songs
Children's Music


CDs and DVDs

A Short Story on Kindness (online)
Be Kind and Compassionate (online)
Character Builders: Gentleness (online)
Character Builders: Kindness (online)
Character Builders: Politeness (online)
David, God's Champion
God's Story: Fruit of the Spirit: Kindness (online)
Holy Tales: David and Abigail (online)

Fruit of the Spirit Animation online (online)
Auto B Good Fruits of the Spirit DVD
By Their Fruit (watch online)
Camp New: Humble Pie, DVD
Character Builders, 2 Disc Set (Repackaged)
Donut Man: After School & The Repair Shop, DVD
Donut Man: Barnyard Fun & On The Air, DVD
Fruit of the Spirit Animation (online)
Hide 'Em In Your Heart 1 & 2 CD (Steve Green)
Music Machine: The Fruit Of The Spirit CD
Music Machine (watch online)

All the Shows, Volume 1: 1993-1999
Do You Wonder Why? (online)
God's Story from Creation to Eternity (online)
Read and Share DVD Bible
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit
Bible story DVDs
Children's DVDs


crafts

Abigail's Donkey
Food Bag
Fruit of the Spirit Bible Crafts: Gentleness
Stick Puppets

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Fruit Printing (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Crafts (online)
Basket Craft (online)

Bible Crafts
Bible Crafts & More (Ages 3-6)
Bible Craft Videos (online)
Crafting the Word of God (online)

Easy-to-Make Bible Crafts PDF for Kids
& Digital Album Download [PDF Download]


Encyclopedia Of Bible Crafts For Preschoolers
Hot Crafts for Cool Kids pdf download
Maker-ific WOWS! (ages 8-12): 54 Surprising Bible Crafts

More! Bible Crafts on a Shoe String Budget:
Paper Sacks & Cardboard Tubes

(Reproducible: Ages 5-10)

Puppet Crafts For Kids (online)


RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

Bible Study on Kindness
Foolish Nabel and Wise Abigail lesson resources
Kids Of Integrity - Gentleness
Kids Of Integrity - Kindness
Home Life Ministries Character Journal: Gentleness
Story of Abigail and David
The Fruit of the Holy Spirit — What is kindness?

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Story Ideas
Important Notes About This Lesson and Answers to THINK Questions

All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Preschool edition)
All-in-One Bible Fun: Fruit of the Spirit (Elementary edition)
Faith Case Fruit of the Spirit
The Fruit of the Spirit Bible story and activities (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit (printable)
Free Bible images for Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit Basket Upset-Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Experience the Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin Board Set (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Characters (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Classroom Chart (online)
Fruits of the Spirit and How We Can Show Them to Others (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Fruit Bowl (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Object Lesson (online)
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
The Fruit of the Spirit Lesson Plan (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Anagrams (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Name Tags (online)
Fruit of the Spirit (online)
Puppet/Skits Scripts (online)
Apple Snacks (online)
Chocolate Covered Strawberries (online)
Fruit Kabobs (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Pizza (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Game (online)
Please Pass The Fruit (Game) (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Necklace (Memory Tool) (online)
Fruit of the Spirit Bookmarks
Fruit of the Spirit Bulletin
The Fruit Of The Spirit, Laminated Wall Chart
How to Simply Inspire Character (online)

Free Bible story images (online)
801 Questions Kids Ask About God
Absentee Postcards
African American Resources
Almost Every Answer for Practically Any Teacher
Bible for Children in 232 languages (online)
Children's Ministry
Bible Memory Match Game
Big Book of Bible Games
Bulletin Board helps
Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul
Children's Sermon (online)
Church Supplies
Closing Prayer (online)

FREE materials to Bible schools, Bible colleges, seminaries,
churches, missionaries & individuals worldwide
(online)

52 Games That Teach The Bible
Free educational videos (online)
God's Servants Teach Me

God's Wisdom for Little Boys:
Character-Building Fun from Proverbs


Help! I'm a Sunday School Teacher
How To Lead a Child To Christ
How to Make Bible Characters from Milk Cartons (online)
KidMin ToolBox: Boxed Book Set
King James Version Gift & Award Bibles

Leading Little Ones to God:
A Child's Book of Bible Teachings


Lord Teach Me To Pray For Kids
Making Children Mind Without Losing Yours
Memory Verse Activities (online)
Memory Verse Resources
Object Talks
Opening Prayer (online)
Parenting Resources
Puppet Scripts
Review Activities for Bible Lessons (online)
Seven Laws of the Learner
Spanish Resources
Sunday school resources
Sunday School Songs: Lyrics and Tunes (online)
Talking to God
Teachers' Reproducible Classroom Pages
Teaching Children Memory Verses Ages 4-5
Teaching Children To Pray Ages 4-5
Teaching to Change Lives
The Beginner's Bible Curriculum Kit
The Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum Kit

The Humongous Book of Bible Skits
for Children's Ministry


Vacation Bible School
What Every Sunday School Teacher Should Know

Children's resources (online)

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