In video games, a "power-up" is something the player looks for to make his character stronger, faster, healthier, and overall more powerful. We are presented with power-ups everyday in the form of challenges, usually involving other people -- people who annoy us, or bother us, or try to get under our skin -- but we see them burdens. We need to see them instead as opportunities to exercise and practice the fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control -- and grow stronger.
