Gentleness

What a better time to talk about Gentleness than Christmas…
What, you ask?  What does Gentleness have to do with Christmas??
(Other than the fact that I need to wrap this Fruit of the Spirit series up by the end of the year)

Well, I think it has a lot to do with Christmas.   Because to tell you the truth, i have a very hard time being Gentle.  I am snappy, and irritable, easily frustrated, and very impatient.  Gentle wouldn’t be the first thing written about me in my obituary. 

But there is something about Christmas…
All the Hustle and Bustle that makes me even more irritable.
I long to enjoy this season and truly worship the King…but my list is longer than the hours in the day, and gosh darn-it we are going to make memories if it kills us. 

And then I stop, and remind myself…. what this is all about. 
Jesus.
It’s not about me. 

And as others around me are stressing about the perfect present, or hosting the perfect holiday dinner, or sending the perfect “best picture on the block” Christmas card… I can let the peace of Christ which Dwells in my heart overflow to those around me. 

And I think one of the greatest Christmas Gifts I can give to those around me is the gift of Gentleness…. 

I can show Gentleness….to strangers.
  I can model Gentleness… to my children.  
I can extend Gentleness… to my husband.

“Let your Gentleness be evident to all”  Philippians 4:5

I do not want my family to remember Christmas as the most stressful time of the year.  More importantly, I don’t want my children to remember me as a stressed out, irritable mommy that loses her temper at the first sign of spilled milk.

I want my Gentleness to be evident to all…
the Gentleness that only comes from Christ.

So, how are you doing living out the Fruit of the Spirit in your home?  
Perhaps we can meditate on the Fruit of The Spirit today, and remind ourselves why Jesus was born in the manger all those years ago….

He came
That we might experience true…

Love

Joy

Peace

Patience

Kindness

Goodness

Faithfulness

Gentleness

Self Control

If the Galatians passage on Fruit of the Spirit isn’t enough for you, check out Colossians 3:12 and 1 Timothy 6:11… 
Paul sure did like hitting home the state of our heart, and these fruits being evident in our lives. 

May you enjoy the next few days preparing for the Greatest day of all!