Gentle Giant

10/1/09 I think it’s time to approach the next to last facet of the fruit of the spirit, gentleness. To do this, I’m sure each of us can conjure up a face, that face of one who comes to mind when we hear the word, gentle. I guarantee you that my face wouldn’t come to anyone’s mind---at least not anyone who knows me well. For me, it wouldn’t be my mother’s face either though her mother was one of the gentlest folks I ever knew. But the face that comes to my mind is that of my daddy. Daddy was and is big in stature and even at age 87, he stands very erect with all his 6’ 2”.
Grandaddy Brud, as my kids call him, has always been a man with a quiet and gentle spirit. I don’t recall him ever even raising his voice at me---or anyone for that matter. Of course, I was his only daughter. As a rambunctious little “tomboy” with skinned knees and lopsided pigtails, I sure earned some “severe” words from Mother, but never Daddy. Harsh words or profanity were just never a part of his vocabulary.
I’m leaving tomorrow to go to Kentucky to visit this gentle giant in my life. I will get to see my brothers as well---two others in my life who have always been gentle toward me. Blessed aren’t I!
I will be off line but I will be collecting THOTS on this fruit quality. I think God has a lot to teach me about gentleness now that I have become aware of my capacity to be “ungentle.” Maybe as Thomas Merton suggests, I’ll begin with small steps by just “closing doors gently” yet with the greater goal in mind. What is that greater goal? The answer is Ephesians 4: 1-2.

".....Walk worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience showing forbearance to one another in love,"