Five Minute Friday - Gentle

This post contains affiliate links - using affiliate links from Homeschool Coffee Break helps fuel this blog.

One word. Five minutes to write about it. This is the idea behind Five Minute Friday and this is today's free-writing post.

gentle giant

********************

There's something about the word picture of the 'gentle giant' that is so appealing and comforting to me. Maybe because it helps me understand what gentleness is, and that it's not just soft and delicate. Obviously a kitten or a feather would be gentle, but I think it's how you handle a kitten or a feather. That's where the gentle giant comes in. No matter how big and strong he is, he handles the kitten gently.

Many, many years ago, a preacher gave that analogy of a burly farmer or fisherman carefully holding a tiny kitten as a definition of gentleness - power and strength under control. 

Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit and it's a word used to describe Jesus. But Jesus certainly wasn't weak or timid and we are not to be weak either. In fact, Jesus displayed power and strength controlled and directed. He commanded the wind and waves, but healed the blind with the touch of his hand. He flipped the tables of the moneychangers and wielded a whip to clear them out of the temple, yet he took little children in his arms to bless them and took the hand of a little girl and brought her back to life.

God's power is beyond our ability to define, but because he is love, he uses his power for our good. Although we fear God in the sense of being in awe of his power, we do not need to be afraid of him, because he is gentle towards us in his love.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 

~I Kings 19:12

"Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

~Matthew 11:29

"Say to Daughter Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey; and on a colt, the foal of a donkey." 

~Matthew 21:5

Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 

~Ephesians 4:2

*******

This post is linked at Five Minute Friday for the word prompt "Gentle".

This post is also linked at Scripture and a Snapshot hosted by Just A Second, and at Inspire Me Monday.

 Don't miss a coffee break! Subscribe to Homeschool Coffee Break by Email! 

 ©2006-2021 Homeschool Coffee Break. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://kympossibleblog.blogspot.com/ 

 We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.