This road-weary traveler pulled off the interstate into a visitor’s rest stop. I uncoiled my achy legs and limped down the concrete pathway. My eyes stopped on a sight I hadn’t seen in quite a while -Hopscotch!

I smiled and hopped! Memories of childhood flooded my brain. My kinks and stiffness disappeared.

Upon closer inspection (the second time I hopped) I noticed that words had been written within each of the nine chalked squares:

Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control

What traveler had carefully taken the time to write words legibly on the sidewalk?
Why these words?

Back on the highway, I couldn’t get the words out of my mind.

Why were they so familiar? Where had I heard them before?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Galatians 5:22

Our Lord works in mysterious ways. HE loves us unconditionally.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit works through strangers.
Sometimes it’s just a hop, skip and a jump.

Patti