Gentleness

A fruit of the Spirit in you

ver.: 03 December 2007

This harvest of spiritual fruit is ripe for the picking :

• love (agape);
• joy (chara);
• peace (eirene);
• patience (makrothumia);
• kindness (chrestotes);
• goodness (agathosune);
• faithfulness (pistis);
• self-control (enkrateia).

Gentleness

Gentleness : [ < OF gentil (courteous, noble) < Latin gentilis (of the same family or clan) < assumed IE gene- (procreation, birth, family). The Old French word (and thus Middle English) inferred that someone had a quality of meekness that was supposed to be characteristic of noble birth or the ruling class. ]
Having the qualiy of being gentle or tender. Noun form of adjective 'gentle': considerate in disposition, mild in mood, soft, tender; well-managed, not sudden or rash or angry, taking care not to harm others. The word field of 'gentleness' includes meekness, tenderness, carefulness, chivalrous. The Greek term in Galatians 5:22 is prautes, which is about mildness or meekness of spirit, taking care not to cause harm.

The Bible says this about gentleness :

• Jesus was gentle
• when restoring a follower to the fellowship
• way of life within a marriage
• pursue it!
• how God treats us by forgiving us

Gentleness

'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 fruit of 'gentleness' isn't about being wishy-washy, indecisive, unassertive, or just plain wimpy. It's 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, a desire that no harm be done. 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 human nature to be gentle. It goes beyond 'instinct', or 'education', or 'society's influence'. We are simply not gentle creatures. Certainly not males, despite the term 'gentleman'. Males are quick with the fists, and the guns. Women have historically been more gentle, but that's a relative matter; they have their own ways of being vicious and destructive. If we are to have the fruit of gentleness, we need the Spirit to give us the ability to be gentle when it counts.

Gentleness is when you care enough to choose not to be harsh, rash, angry, or rough. Gentleness is when you know and use the best way to hold an egg or a butterfly. A gentle person knows better than to harm others, and so chooses to act in a way that does not. A gentle person does not seek to make other people angry. Gentleness may lose battles, but it helps win the overall struggles.
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