The Need for Gentleness

The world is in need of gentleness--of those who are in loving pursuit of the needy and the hurting. They pursue with the truth spoken in love those sheep who are not yet part of His flock. They pursue with lovingkindness--with loyal love--those of His flock who have wandered away--grateful for the grace in their own life experiences. Spontaneously they stoop down to lift up the fallen--walking by someone in need never crosses their mind. Having discovered that He is as He promises the God of All Comfort, they readily share in word and action the Spirit's care for His own. Compassion is not a word to them but actions enriched by love. They bind the broken-hearted with the love that has bound up their wounds in times of sorrow and loss and disappointment, and yes, even failure. Like their Good Shepherd they are indefatigable in the pursuit of the one. They will carry them gently as long as it takes to renew their strength. The journey Home is a long arduous one and gentleness is essential to the unity of the body that empowers victorious living. Gentleness--loving pursuit, loyal love, stooping down, living compassion, binding of wounds, sharing the Spirit's caring heart and strength. How the world desperately needs the gentle saint.

And the enemy of a gentle spirit is the heart of a Pharisee.