Pathways Press.com

Written by Whitney Hopler, a contemporary writer.

When I volunteered at my children’s elementary school, I met a student named Victor, who shared some comic strips he had created with me. “In this story, the superheroes are talking, not fighting,” he said. “They’re talking about how to solve their problem instead of beating each other up.” I congratulated Victor on the good ideas he portrayed in the comic strips. Ever since I had seen Victor crying because some kids in his class had teased him for his gentleness, I tried to encourage Victor to see his gentleness as a strength rather than a weakness. He told me that the students who made fun of his gentle nature thought he was weak. However, he added, “I’m just trying to be a gentleman, and my parents say that’s a good thing.” I urged Victor to share his comic strips with his teacher and the whole class. After he did so, more students came to appreciate the value of gentleness…It’s often easier to find harshness than gentleness in our fallen world. People often speak mean words to each other or post harsh messages on social media. Arguments abound, and conflicts rage on as people mistreat each other. Battles for power and control are all around us. Violence is in the news regularly. Yet Jesus continues to call us to be gentle in this harsh world. Jesus models gentleness as a sign of strength…God is gentle with us. He gives us unlimited and unconditional love. He answers our prayers according to what’s best for us. He extends grace and mercy to us whenever we ask for it. Since God – who is the source of all strength – treats us with gentleness, we can see how gentleness is truly a sign of strength when we look to God’s example…It may not be popular to be gentle in this harsh world. However, it’s important for us all to learn how to be gentle. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will teach us how to do so.

Prayer:

Written by the nuns at Kylemore Abbey, Galway, Ireland.

O Holy Spirit, replace the tension within me with Holy relaxation.

Replace the turbulence within me with a sacred calm.

Replace the anxiety within me with a quiet confidence.

Replace the fear within me with a strong faith.

Replace the bitterness within me with the sweetness of your grace.

Replace the darkness within me with a gentle light. Replace the coldness within me with a gentle warmth.