Gentleness

“See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey” – Matthew 21:5

When Jesus entered Jerusalem for the last time, just a week before He was murdered, He was still very popular. The entire city stood still in anticipation of Him. Jesus could have entered triumphantly on a horse drawn chariot, accompanied by an army. He could have had His servants carry Him in. Yet again, He chose a very different approach than anyone would expect of a King. He rides in on a donkey; not exactly the animal used to demonstrate power and strength. As this passage states, He enters the city gently.

Gentleness is not the same as weakness. In fact, gentleness demonstrates strength of character. It demonstrates the kind of humility that doesn’t consider oneself too good or important for tasks that would otherwise be considered ‘beneath’ a person in authority.

So how does gentleness come into play in our work? There are so many layers to every person that comes through our doors. Sometimes it’s possible for us to take things personally when someone is acting out. Gentleness convicts us to take a step back from our positions of power and try to understand where someone may be coming from when they’re being rude or aggressive. A response of gentleness instead of rudeness is crucial in demonstrating that we care. It’s not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of humility and compassion.

Let’s be gentle as we continue striving to be ‘The Hand of God in the Heart of the City”.

Peace,

Dion