Gentleness is defined as, “considerate or kindly in disposition, amiable and tender, not harsh or severe.” Wow, gentleness congers up something sweet like this picture I found of a little girl with baby ducklings in her lap.
I don’t know about you, but I find it absolutely delightful to be around kind and considerate people who have a soft, sweet way of talking to others. Being around this type of person just lifts my spirits, affirms all that I know I can be in Christ, and encourages me to my full potential.
Last week, we focused on kindness. It may seem like gentleness is very similar, but in actuality it takes kindness to another level. You may have heard about the Golden Rule, “Treat People the way you would like to be treated.” Well, there’s also the Platinum Rule that kicks things up a notch, and asks us to, “Treat people the way that they would like to be treated.” It’s easier to treat people the way that WE want to be treated than to treat them they way that THEY want to be treated.
It takes a strong person to be self controlled enough to be gentle with others and to show them a level of care that is selfless, thinking of the other person. My word of encouragement today is to speak gently and love the people that God places in your life, always remembering that we can’t see the wounds in a person’s soul! Your gentleness may change their perspective and allow them to trust again, believing and hoping that God has a plan for their life, even in the midst of the storm!
Leave a Reply