This month, our character focus is Gentleness. The operational definition of Gentleness is “Showing personal care and concern in meeting the needs of others.”

Gentleness builds on several different character qualities. A person must first experience the love of God for himself and realize God’s love for others. After love, alertness recognizes the needs around him. Alertness requires wisdom to discern what level of involvement is appropriate. Wisdom paves the way for compassion to empathize with a person’s need and take suitable steps of action. Gentleness is the final touch, carrying out the act of compassion in a tender and thoughtful way.

The opposite of gentleness is harshness. In the absence of love, we will lack gentleness. Selfish motives, wrong priorities, and a limited perspective can cause a person to make demands sharply and “run over” others to accomplish his goals. Beware! If this attitude creeps into your thoughts or actions, remember that “a brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle” (Proverbs 18:19). Do not rudely demand your way at the expense of others. Ask God to help you look beyond yourself to the needs of others and to replace your harshness with His love and care.