9. Growing in Gentleness: Strength in Softness Modelled After Jesus

Welcome back to our exploration of the Fruit of the Spirit! Today, we're focusing on the eighth fruit: gentleness. Gentleness is often misunderstood in a world that values strength and assertiveness, but as followers of Christ, we're called to cultivate a spirit of gentleness in our lives, following the example of our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

So, what is gentleness? Gentleness is about approaching life with humility and compassion, treating others with kindness and respect, and handling situations with care and sensitivity. It's easy to get caught up in the heat of the moment, an intense situation, and perhaps even behave more aggressively than we might usually. A large part of gentleness is approaching every situation with understanding and meekness, regardless of how we may feel at the time.

Practical ways to cultivate gentleness include:

• Show Compassion: Treat others with empathy and compassion, seeking to understand and support them in their struggles.
• Speak Kindly: Use gentle and affirming words when interacting with others, building them up rather than tearing them down.
• Practice Humility: Cultivate a spirit of humility, recognising that true strength lies not in force or aggression, but in the gentle touch of love and kindness.

It's about recognising that true strength lies not in force or aggression, but in the gentle touch of love and kindness. So, let's commit to cultivating gentleness in our lives, knowing that in Jesus, we have the perfect example of what it means to be strong in the softest of ways.