Gentle on My Mind

The other day at the dinner table, another wonderful Beckyism was uttered. Beckyism is the term I use for describing the comments, words, or opinions that belong to my seven-year old daughter Rebbeca. She was describing a surprise treat for dessert (A Klondike bar) to her older sister Sarah. The description went like this. 

“It’s like a hotdog on a stick but with out the hotdog or the stick.”


Exactly. It reminds me of this quote.

“Nothing is so strong as gentleness, and nothing so gentle as true strength.”
Dag Hammarskjold

To me gentleness is not about being tame or weak, it’s about liberation. Freed to open our hearts towards our children and pour love into them. Through gentleness God’s fatherness is express through us, strengthening the dad muscle in us. This strength is fundamental to our leadership and what we lay on the shoulders of our children.

“Take My yoke on you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest to your souls. (30) For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:29-30

“Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.”
The Message Bible

We want our children to keep company with us don’t we? As we keep time with the Father’s heart, gentleness is a rhythm of grace we teach to our kids. On this journey our posture is firm, our stance strong but gentleness fruit recognizes the spirit of our children and how easy it is to crush. That knowledge should empower us with a different mindset, and a more powerful (gentle) show of force. That’s when His gentleness makes us great dads.

“Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holdeth me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.”
Psalm 18:35

Peace,
Jay

This is my entry into the One Word at a Time Blog Carnival, hosted by Bridget Chumbley. Check out the
other entries here: Gentleness.