Early in my life I recall  listening to  my  mother say,
"Cleanliness is next to godliness." It is my conviction
that gentleness is next to cleanliness. This is my way
of saying that in the hierarchy of values, gentleness
is near the top of the list.
     But what is gentleness? Gentleness is the quality
of beng tender, mild-mannered and expressing loving-
kindness.It is not being proud, arrogant or braggadocio.
It involves  humility  which  is, as C.S. Lews  declares,
"Not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less."
      When a person is tempted to be harsh, aggressive
or vindictive it is good to surrender to gentleness which
can enable him to confront, be firm and unapologetic
for his  feelings  and  convictions. In doing  this  he
demonstrates his strength, not weakness. St. Francis
asserts that, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness,
nothing is so gentle as real strength."
     The gentle person recognizes that, like himself,
people he encounters are fragile, despite their
posturing or attempt to declare that they are invincible.
      It is well to remember this wisdom assertion of St.
Francis, "Nothing is so strong as gentleness."
     Resolve to be the gentle person you want to see in
another person.

Copyrght 2019 by Uriah J. Fields

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