I must admit that I’m not very good at this taking it easy stuff. It’s hard for me to sit and do nothing. I got up early as I normally do but went back to bed very shortly. Needed more rest.
Dave is doing a great job of taking care of me and making sure I don’t do too much. I’ve been told that I need to walk as much as I can so we took a long, slow walk around the block. Dave kept Glory on her leash and he let me walk at a pace that was comfortable to me. It was painstaking slow. Those of you that know Dave and I know we like to walk a brisk pace. We don’t do slow but today we did!
He’s so kind.
That little walk brought me thoughts on gentleness. I have shared some of these with you before but today seemed the perfect time for a refresher course.
What comes to mind when you think of gentleness? The dictionary defines gentleness as the quality or state of being gentle. Not much help is it? So what does it mean to be gentle?
1 : having or showing a kind and quiet nature : not harsh or violent
2 : not hard or forceful
3 : not strong or harsh in effect or quality
Over the last several decades the quality of gentleness has begun to disappear from our society. Men who act like “gentlemen” have been branded as sexist. What was once considered polite and considerate has been tagged as demeaning. May I say, I enjoy having doors opened for me; I like the fact that my husband walks on street side when we’re out. I like being called Ma’am and having someone remove his hat when introduced. I appreciate a gentle man.
And ladies, what is wrong with having someone treat us with respect? Offering to help when something seems too big, too heavy or too dangerous for us to handle. I’m not insulted but instead I feel complimented. When we display ourselves as being able to handle it all, we will be given that opportunity. And then we have no one to blame but ourselves when we feel like no one cares.
We teach children to be gentle with the new puppy or kitten, the new baby brother or sister and then later they become criticizes for being too sensitive. I remember saying to our kids, “Gentle, gentle” when they were wanting to touch something fragile.
When I think of Biblical gentleness I think of the Good Samaritan. He didn’t have to help the man from Jerusalem. The priest walked by the injured man, ignoring him. So did the CEO of the local religious ministry. But the Samaritan went out of his way, dressed the man’s wounds, took him to the local BnB and saw that his needs were attended too. He took money out of his pocket to cover the expense of his stay and then promised to come back and pay for any additional expenses.
I don’t think the man who was rescued ever even knew the name of his benefactor. The Samaritan wasn’t motivated out of a need to be recognized for his philanthropic efforts. In fact, there was racial conflict between the Jews and the people of Samaria. He was just a gentle man.
“A man stood up who knew the Law and tried to trap Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to have life that lasts forever?” 26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the Law? What does the Law say?” 27 The man said, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart. You must love Him with all your soul. You must love Him with all your strength. You must love Him with all your mind. You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.” 28 Jesus said to him, “You have said the right thing. Do this and you will have life.” 29 The man tried to make himself look good. He asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to the city of Jericho. Robbers came out after him. They took his clothes off and beat him. Then they went away, leaving him almost dead. 31 A religious leader was walking down that road and saw the man. But he went by on the other side. 32 In the same way, a man from the family group of Levi was walking down that road. When he saw the man who was hurt, he came near to him but kept on going on the other side of the road. 33 Then a man from the country of Samaria came by. He went up to the man. As he saw him, he had loving-pity on him. 34 He got down and put oil and wine on the places where he was hurt and put cloth around them. Then the man from Samaria put this man on his own donkey. He took him to a place where people stay for the night and cared for him. 35 The next day the man from Samaria was ready to leave. He gave the owner of that place two pieces of money to care for him. He said to him, ‘Take care of this man. If you use more than this, I will give it to you when I come again.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who was beaten by the robbers?” 37 The man who knew the Law said, “The one who showed loving-pity on him.” Then Jesus said, “Go and do the same.” Luke 10:25-37 NLV
Jesus said that this man was the kind who would receive eternal life. This man loved the Lord with all his heart, soul and mind and he loved his neighbor as well.
Seeds of gentleness are tiny and go unnoticed. They come from speaking a kind word to a new mother or a hurting child. Gestures of gentleness are found in a smile, a hug, the pat of a hand. Gentleness is walking slow when it is completely contrary to your nature. Gentleness grows in a heart filled with love and a desire to help those that are hurting, alone, scared or even angry.
“Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest. 18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.” James 3:16-18 ERV
Take a look around you, I’m sure you will see someone who needs your touch and you will hear the Holy Spirit say, “Gentle, gentle…”