Once in a while we meet a gentle person. Gentleness is a virtue
hard to find in a society that admires toughness and roughness. We are
encouraged to get things done and to get them done fast, even when
people get hurt in the process. Success, accomplishment, and
productivity count. But the cost is high. There is no place for
gentleness in such a milieu.
Gentle is the one who does "not break the crushed reed, or snuff the faltering wick" (Matthew 12:20). Gentle is the one who is attentive to the strengths and weaknesses of the other and enjoys being together more than accomplishing something. A gentle person treads lightly, listens carefully, looks tenderly, and touches with reverence. A gentle person knows that true growth requires nurture, not force. Let's dress ourselves with gentleness. In our tough and often unbending world our gentleness can be a vivid reminder of the presence of God among us.
Henri Nouwen
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