Gentleness

Well, as it gets too difficult to sit down for any longer amount of time to work on the computer, this will probably be my last post for a while. I've had this one typed up for a couple weeks now and just have forgotten to post it. Mayme is healing very well from her burn. We can already see it getting smaller and smaller each day. Praise the Lord. We are going to enjoy a restful week at home before the baby comes, but we'll manage to sneak in a Birthday party for Jude and Mayme at the end of the week. So, I leave you with some thoughts on gentleness...something that I need to think about again as I enter a new season called "lack of sleep" :) I really am excited for this new little baby to come and can't wait to share pictures with you all. 

Love, Heather

(Lucy at her birthday party when she turned 3???)

A month or so ago, I really felt like I was struggling with being gentle towards my children when I was upset with them or during stressful times. Our Life Group was studying Colossians and we were challenging each other to grow by putting off our earthly nature and putting on Christ's nature.

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 

So, I prayerfully took some time to study gentleness a bit and the Lord led me to these verses (well I also looked up patience and kindness too )  :

Galatians 6:1 Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.

1 Timothy 1:16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.

2 Timothy 2:24-25 And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth...

Romans 2:4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

I wrote these verse out on index cards and spent many days just reading through them each morning. It was so neat how the Lord opened my eyes to the real reason gentleness and kindness are needed. They are not just good things that we should do to be good Christians; they are so much more than that!! They are necessary tools. Do you see the connection between the verses?

God's kindness towards us leads us to repentance. Our gentleness towards others, can help bring them back to a right relationship with the Lord. This was such an amazing realization! I shouldn't be a gentle mother/wife/friend because it is more pleasant and will make me a better person, but because that gentleness can have an eternal impact on the lives of those around me!

Lord, help me to walk in your victory by putting on your gentleness and kindness, with the hope that you would grant to those around me repentance that leads to a knowledge of your truth.