Day 17 - Relating in Gentleness

“Gentle words are a tree of life; a harsh tongue crushes the spirit.” 
Proverbs 15: 4

Meditate or Reflect
At this point in our fruitful journey, I wonder if you are discovering there are some fruit of the Spirit that are easy for you? Some that are challenging? Some that you desperately desire more of? I am answering yes, yes, and yes for me. Joy, kindness, and gentleness come easy for me, and I especially crave gentleness, and I think it comes from a place of having experienced the opposite. Of course, we won’t live out the fruit of the Spirit perfectly (after all, we are saints who still sin, and we have yet to be adorned in our redeemed bodies); however, when we lean into the Holy Spirit, He leads us on the journey of growing and maturing in the Fruit of the Spirit. Most of us have relational wounds, or loss, or trauma, and we are battle-weary, maybe, broken, maybe exhausted. And harsh words just might “crush the spirit.” Words that are harsh (cursing, sarcasm, mocking, demeaning), tone that is harsh (short, sharp, frustrated), actions that are harsh (physical touch, eye-rolling, striking an object or slamming a door) – all harshness “crushes the spirit” both in others and in oneself. Let us seek gentleness in our words, tone, and actions as gentleness is a life-giving fruit. Take a breath and think of relationships where you have experienced gentleness of spirit. Reflect on the gentleness of God who abides with you like a calm breeze, who leads you in quiet and green pastures.