“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” Col 3:12
Gentleness is defined in the dictionary as “the quality of being kind, tender, or mild-mannered.”
When we think of gentleness in terms of the fruit of the Spirit, it means showing humility and thankfulness towards God, and also involves being polite, restrained and compassionate toward others. True gentleness requires intention. Being intentionally kind, compassionate, and humble towards others.
We are called to treat others as Jesus has treated us, and to view each person through His love and gentleness.
Looking to our most beautiful Blessed Mother, the perfect model of virtue and a supreme witness of gentleness, let us ask for her intercession to help us maintain calm and gentleness especially in times of distress or disagreement, to stand out as calm and gentle representatives of Jesus, and to be able carriers of gentleness to others.
Here are simple ways for you to model gentleness:
- Smile at everyone
- Actively listen to others
- Ask thoughtful questions to understand another’s viewpoint
- Refrain from imposing your preferences on others
- Be courteous and considerate
- Be patient
- Lend a hand – even in small gestures
- Serve with joy
- Be intentional with your word choices
- Encourage others
- Speak calmly
- Express gratitude
- Forgive others
- Listen to “Hail Mary, Gentle Women“, to invoke a spirit of peace, calm and gentleness.
We invite you now to please join us in praying the LITANY OF GENTLENESS
Written by Hannah Marie Gemma Fowerbaugh / Wholeheartedly Han
From the desire to have the upper hand, deliver me, my Jesus.
From the desire to always be right, deliver me, my Jesus.
From interrupting and overriding, deliver me, my Jesus.
From aggression and manipulation, deliver me, my Jesus.
From blaming and attacking, deliver me, my Jesus.
From severe and harsh language, deliver me, my Jesus.
From indifference to others’ feelings, deliver me, my Jesus.
From cancel culture, deliver me, my Jesus.
From withholding forgiveness and understanding, deliver me, my Jesus.
From the pride that separates me from my neighbor, deliver me, my Jesus.
That I may be a safe space for others, make me gentle, my Jesus.
That I may receive others with love, make me gentle, my Jesus.
That I may trade gossip for the love of my neighbor, make me gentle, my Jesus.
That I may hold respect for my brothers and sisters, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To walk with a disarmed presence, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To approach arguments with a tender hand, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To carry self-awareness into hard conversations, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To have no hidden agenda of ego, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To want only love today, make me gentle, my Jesus.
To realize just how dear souls are to You, make me gentle, my Jesus.
For a heart molded through the art of tenderness, make me gentle, my Jesus.
For a heart wielding its power to wound or heal with care, make me gentle, my Jesus.
For a heart believing the best in others, make me gentle, my Jesus.
For a heart pardoning the worst, make me gentle, my Jesus.
For a compassionate heart mirroring Yours, make me gentle, my Jesus.
Amen
Deanne, you and Colleen are such kind, gentle, devoted souls. I am grateful to have “known” you since 2015 or so. I am so grateful for the constancy of your apostate. I continue to read and share, though now I am older and unable to meet the physical challenges. God bless you all. Keep up the good work!
God bless you Marjorie and thank you for being on this beautiful journey with us since 2015! Keeping you in prayer with much thanksgiving!
Deanne – Thank you for answering God’s call and being a voice for the Holy Spirit to speak through. What you wrote here is just what I needed to hear and the guidance I needed today! May God continue to bless you and your work.
Thank you for your kind encouragement Nancy. I’m thankful the Holy Spirit provided the words I needed to hear too! May God grant you His gentle peace, and the grace to be gentle with yourself.