Gentleness is more than a person’s disposition. It’s an outgrowth of love.

It’s when you care enough to choose not to be harsh, rash, punishing, assuming that you know it all, angry, or rough.

Gentleness is when you learn and then use the best way to hold an egg or a butterfly.

A gentle person knows better than to harm others, and so they choose to act in a way that does not harm.

A gentle person does not look for ways to make other people angry.

Gentleness may lose battles, but it helps win the overall struggles. A gentle response tends to create fewer enemies and more friends.

Spiritual fruits all tie together. Self-control overcomes impulsive reactions, which are usually not gentle.

Gentle care grows and develops the ability to bear suffering or disadvantage for a long time.

Those who have an attitude of kindness (looking for ways to benefit others) will treat others gently. It can not only prevent harm, it can create room for emotional healing.

The biblical qualities of meekness and gentleness are misunderstood and undervalued in today’s society of extremes — where all too often people tend to angrily overreact or passively underreact.

“But the wisdom from God, from above, is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere,” James 3:17.

“Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. And, Keep watch on yourself, in case you too might be tempted,” Galatians 6:1.

The fruit of ‘gentleness’ isn’t about being wishy-washy, indecisive, unassertive, or just plain wimpy.

Instead, it’s a determined refusal to use power to harm anyone. It’s a decided unwillingness to cut and slash at people, wounding them for vengeance, spite or control.

Gentleness genuinely desires…
…that no harm be done.

“As we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make friends with the impostor and accept that we are impoverished and broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God.
The art of gentleness toward ourselves leads to being gentle with others — and is a natural prerequisite for our presence to God in prayer,” ^© Brennan Manning.

 

In His Shadow,
~ Mary Lindow ^©

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” THE MESSENGER ” ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
Global Prayer Rooms

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Mary Lindow has a passion for encouraging others – all generations, careers or vocations to live expressing excellence through personal integrity, healthy accountability, and wise management of talents and skills. She’s a sought after keynote, inspirational, humorous speaker and teacher across the USA and internationally in Ministers & Spiritual leaders Conferences, and training seminars for various organizations.

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