Gentleness Matters

Philippians 4:5

I couldn’t quite put my finger on it, but something was off at our home.

The kids were constantly bickering with each other. My husband and I were short with our words. No one was being outright rude, but no one was being gentle either. And my spirit had had enough!

I realized that a change first needed to start in my heart, so I prayed that the Lord would help me change this spirit of dissension in my home. He led me to the book of Philippians where it seems that there were two women in the church that were not getting along so well.

Paul gave these words of advice to them when he said:

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

I let that sink in for a minute. Had I been gentle with my husband and with my children? No, I had not, so how could I expect them to be gentle with each other??

First I had to change the tone in which I spoke to them and then ask that they do the same. And guess what? As I changed the way that I approached them, I started to see a positive change in them as well.

But my ultimate motivation for treating my family with gentleness is because I believe that the Lord is near and I certainly don’t want to disappoint Him. I can’t be short with my kids or husband and expect the Lord to be gentle with me.

If I truly want the Lord’s favor and blessing to fall on me, then I have to be willing to extend the same to others…

in the grocery store checkout line

in the committee meeting with the abrasive member

in my home as we rush out the door each morning

in my everyday life.

Gentleness matters. If by chance you find yourself in my shoes, remember Paul’s words and let your gentleness be evident to those you interact with because the Lord is near!