Be Gentle

In my last post, I urged us all to “be kind.” In keeping with that theme, today I will focus on how we also need to “be gentle.”

I find that in some situations it’s easier to be gentle. For example, we are gentle with babies! The women of our church gave a baby shower to one of our young women the Sunday before Mother’s Day. She had the baby two days later, and brought her newborn to church on Mother’s Day! We all wanted to see the baby, but we kept our distance since the baby was only five days old. When we do hold babies, we wash our hands, make sure we don’t have on any dirty, wet coats, and gather up the baby gently into our arms, cradling the head.

• What happens when that same newborn becomes a teenager? Often, our gentle spirit evaporates and we end up struggling with our daughter or son, easily frustrated or angered by the poor choices they have made.
• When we meet our future spouse, we are sweet, gentle, and generous. But after 20 years of marriage, does that gentleness turn into a harsh word or a brusque reply?
• Maybe a co-worker is slow to learn a new task, and she has asked for help so often that we cannot complete our own work. Do we continue to treat her gently, or do we give curt replies and hope she will figure it out herself?

Here is a short quiz (I can’t help it; I’m a teacher) for you to see if you are a gentle person:

• Do we listen well, and wait patiently until the person we are talking to is finished, or do we interrupt to get our own point across?
• Do we allow drivers to change lanes and move in front of us, or do we honk at them and cut them off?
• Do we consider our words before replying in anger?
• If we see a mom with a stroller struggling to open a door, or a homeless person asking for spare change, or an elderly person in need of assistance, do we gently assist them?
• When we are provoked, do we respond in anger, or with a gentle answer?
• Are we cultivating a “gentle and quiet spirit”?

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NASB

Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God. For in this way in former times the holy women also, who hoped in God, used to adorn themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.   1 Peter 3:3-5

Lord Jesus, enable us to cultivate a gentle spirit, to be kind to others, to wait patiently, and to treat others as You would have us treat them. Help us to live our lives as godly women and men who attract people to You, by living godly, gentle lives. Thank You for your Holy Spirit who indwells us and molds us into men and women who glorify You. Amen.

Enjoyed the Post? Share...

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

Linkedin

email

Digg

Reddit

• ← Forgiveness
• A Call To Pray →