I love the phrase “gentle giant.” I use it often on Mr. Jones. Strong’s concordance describes it as “strength under control.” I like that. I’ve seen strength displayed in many harsh ways. Many times in my own life. The short fuse with the waitress. The angry outbursts. The biting words and bitter tone. But gentleness, oh gentleness is beauty in action.

It’s learning the waitresses name and finding a way to make her day better than pointing out why she’s got it all wrong. It’s when the anger has every right to spew but our response is delayed if necessary to provide room to breathe, pray and then maybe or maybe not respond. It’s when the frustration sits on the surface and instead of splashing it on those around us, we take it to a quite place and hand it to our Father, usually emerging with the control to offer a word that will breathe life and hopefully healing.

In being the bonus-mom to five and being in ministry for almost twenty years, I have learned that Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” is oh so true. Our response. Our gentleness has the ability to turn tides. Tides of other’s anger, tides of other’s pain, tides of other’s frustrations. Gentleness is not a weakness. It is strength under control. I dare say it is strength at its best.

It is far easier to be a reactor, a verbal volcano than to be a gentle, peaceful stream that can exist at the base of Category 4 rapids. It is possible. And it comes with abiding. If gentleness is a loss commodity in your repertoire of arsenal the question isn’t about others, it is about you. It is about your place of abiding. Abide in me, and I will abide in you and you shall bear much fruit. And sometimes that fruit arrives in the most beautiful and gentle packaging of the oh so faithful heart.