p.s. be gentle

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Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105





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I think people understand things different when they get older. It’s not a question of getting soft, or seeing things in the gray areas instead of black and white. I really believe I’m just understanding things different. Better. Jeff Lindsay

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The more sand that has escaped from the hourglass of our life, the clearer we should see through it. Jean-Paul Sartre

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Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Philippians 4:5

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Make it as clear as you can to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Help them see that the Master is about to arrive. He could show up any minute! Philippians 4:5 (The Message)

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So what is this ‘gentleness’ that Paul is talking about? epieíkeia, "gentle" in the sense of truly fair by relaxing overly strict standards in order to keep the "spirit of the law."

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Fairmindedness, the attitude of a man who is charitable towards men's faults and merciful in his judgement of his failings because he takes their whole situation into his reckoning. L.H. Marshall

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Once in a while we meet a gentle person. Gentleness is a virtue hard to find in a society that admires toughness and roughness.

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We are encouraged to get things done and to get them done fast, even when people get hurt in the process. Success, accomplishment, and productivity count. But the cost is high. There is no place for gentleness in such a milieu

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Gentle is the one who does "not break the crushed reed, or snuff the faltering wick" (Matthew 12:20). Gentle is the one who is attentive to the strengths and weaknesses of the other and enjoys being together more than accomplishing something.

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A gentle person treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force.

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Let's dress ourselves with gentleness. In our tough and often unbending world our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us. Henri Nouwen

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How? 1. This is a work of the Holy Spirit in you to nurture this fruit

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But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.

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We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people.

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We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely. Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way. Galatians 5:22, 24

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How?

2. Recognise your own need for

gentleness from God

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2. Recognise your own need for

gentleness from God a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench Isaiah 42:3

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How?

3. Be gentle on yourself.

You can be gentle on others when you are gentler on yourself. Lower your expectations for yourself before you dump the resulting anger on others. David Riddell

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How?

4. Recognise others need for gentleness Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Ian MacLaren

p.s. Be Gentle