On the seventh day of CHRISTmas my true love gave to me...
seven swans a swimming...
From this site I learned...
"Isaiah told us the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit: Is 11:2 “The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.”
They are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These seven gifts, part of sanctifying grace, complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them. They make us docile in obeying divine inspirations without need for reflection but always with full consent.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are greater than the theological and cardinal virtues. The virtues operate to the limits of human power and volition, but the gifts bring divine assistance.
We are to pray to the Holy Spirit and ask for one of these gifts. If He gives us a gift, we may ask for another, and so on.
The practice of virtue, enabled by the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, bring us the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit."
While some of the ideas, like theological and cardinal virtues, are not familiar to me, the idea that the Holy Spirit can give us gifts like courage and wisdom, is not only a familiar concept but an encouraging thought. What mom does not need wisdom or knowledge. And I believe homeschooling moms, having stepped out in faith, following a unique path, need lots of courage.
Another website reported that these were the seven gifts of: prophecy, ministry, teaching, exhortation, giving, leading, and compassion (Romans 12:6-8).
Whether this refers to the gifts in Isaiah or the gifts in Romans, I know I need all the help I can get.