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FRUIT    5'?m2f The fruit of the Spirit

AMY -- (enters carrying styrofoam coffee cup, crosses to 
opposite exit, screams loudly)

SUE -- (enters carrying styrofoam coffee cup, begins crossing to 
Amy) Did I just hear someone scream out here?

AMY -- (crossing to Sue) Oh, it was just me, letting off steam.

SUE -- What are you steamed about?

AMY -- (points an angry finger, opens mouth)

SUE -- Oh, don't tell me. It was the banquet. Wasn't it?

AMY -- No, it wasn't the banquet. It was Pastor Tom. (imitating 
with sugar sweet smile) "I'd like to thank all those who made 
yesterday's banquet a smashing success, particularly Mildred 
Hawkins, who served a scrumptious meal and Jennifer Tisdale, who 
supplied the marvelous entertainment." (sneers) It's like I 
wasn't even there! (handing her cup to Sue) Excuse me for a 
moment. (turns, crosses to exit, screams again, turns back takes 
cup) Thank you. I feel much better now.

SUE -- I doubt it. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.

AMY -- Where do you suppose Pastor Tom would have sat at the 
banquet if "I" had not borrowed all those tables and chairs from 
two other churches? And do you suppose ANYONE would have been 
able to even SEE the entertainment if I hadn't called all over 
town to find a portable stage for them to perform on?

SUE -- Poor baby.

AMY -- Do you know where Mildred Hawkins got the menu for her 
SCRUMPTIOUS meal? I was the coordinator for the whole banquet 
and I didn't even get an honorable mention.

SUE -- Poor baby.

AMY -- You're a lot of help.

SUE -- I'm just waiting for you to finish.

AMY -- Finish what?

SUE -- Feeling sorry for yourself.

AMY -- Oh, I suppose you would have taken in right in stride, 
being completely ignored.

SUE -- Well, first, I have this vague recollection that it says 
in the Bible that I will get all my rewards in Heaven. 

AMY -- Oh, don't start quoting scripture.

SUE -- Second, it may not have been an oversight at all that 
Pastor Tom failed to mention your name.

AMY -- You mean he did it deliberately?! Why, that... (tries to 
cross by Sue)

SUE -- (blocks her way) Wait a minute. That's not what I said. I 
said maybe it wasn't an accident. I didn't say who intended it.

AMY -- I'll bet it was Jennifer Tisdale. Why, that... (tries to 
cross by Sue)

SUE -- (blocks her way) Wait a minute. That's not what I said 
either. What I'm trying say is that maybe it's the Holy Spirit 
who caused Pastor Tom to overlook you.

AMY -- Yeah, right. Who are you protecting?

SUE -- You don't see it, do you?

AMY -- See what?

SUE -- Galatians 5:23.

AMY -- (sighs) Instead of an explanation, I get a scripture 
verse.

SUE -- Galatians 5:23 is exactly what I'm trying to explain. 
Listen: "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, 
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and 
self-control." While you're out here screaming hysterically, 
Mildred and Jennifer are in there (points over shoulder) right 
now glowing with the fruit of the spirit.

AMY -- Of course, they got recognition!

SUE -- That's not why they're glowing. When people do the work 
of the Lord, hand in hand with the Holy Spirit, they come out of 
it with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, 
faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. What did you (points) 
get out of all your hard work on the banquet?

AMY -- Ignored. I got completely ignored.

SUE -- You still can't see it, can you?

AMY -- See what?

SUE -- How is your daily quiet time with the Lord?

AMY -- What daily quiet time? For the last two weeks, every time 
I sat down with my Bible I thought of a half dozen details that 
had to be taken care of for the banquet, like what did Sharon 
Wilkinson do with the table cloths before she went to the 
funeral in Iowa?

SUE -- Poor baby.

AMY -- You're doing it again.

SUE -- You're still missing the point. If you go in there right 
now and talk to Mildred and Jennifer, I'll bet both of them will 
say that they haven't missed a quiet time with the Lord in two 
weeks. That's why they're glowing. They were glowing this 
morning BEFORE they were recognized by Pastor Tom. How were 
things with you this morning after that marvelously successful 
banquet? 

AMY -- (sighs) I was miserable. Nothing went right. I honked at 
three cars on the way to church. You should have heard the names 
I was going to call them. (sigh) Alright, I'll admit it. I have 
been doing the Lord's work without the Lord, so of course I 
don't have any peace or joy. (sighs) I've just got to get back 
to my daily time with the Lord.

SUE -- (hugs Amy) Good for you. You learned the lesson. (pulls 
back) Now I can tell you.

AMY -- Tell me what?

SUE -- Pastor Tom stopped me at the coffee table just now and 
told me not to let you leave church this morning without a hug 
and a big apology. He wrote your name at the top of a slip of 
paper and when he pulled it out of his pocket this morning, your 
name was covered up by a fold in the paper. 

AMY -- (grabs Sue's elbow, escorts her to exit) I bet I know who 
folded the paper.

BOTH - The Holy Spirit. (they laugh as they exit)

©2008 Bob Snook. Conditions for use:
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