Gentleness
 

Real gentleness is power under control.'Gentleness' is an interesting fruit of the spirit. It has a tie-in to Jesus, too, for didn't he speak of the meek inheriting the earth? The gift of 'gentleness' isn't about being wishy-washy, indecisive, unassertive, or just plain wimpy. It is connected instead to a refusal to use power over anyone, an unwillingness to cut and slash at people, wounding them for vengeance, spite or control. It's about being out to build people up instead of harming them or scaring them. There are gentle ways to be bold, non-violent ways to stand up for what is right, non-manipulative ways to lead and to convince. But it is not in the human nature to be that way. It goes beyond 'instinct', or 'education', or 'society's influence'; we are simply not gentle creatures. Certainly not males, despite the term 'gentleman'. Women have historically been more gentle, but that is a relative matter; they have their own ways of being vicious and destructive. No. If we are to be truly gentle, we need God to give us the ability to be gentle when it counts.


 

Anonymously submitted by a friend