Growing up my dad often told me, "Ali, no matter what's happening around you always be gentle and bold". I honestly had no idea what he meant by that back then, but as I've gotten older I've begun to understand. Being gentle does not mean you are weak and being bold does not mean loud or aggressive. Gentle is defined by the dictionary as: having or showing a mild, kind, or tender temperament or character. Being even tempered and kind and to be bold means: showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous. Being confident and courageous.
So being gentle and bold can be thought of as being kind and courageous, showing a confidence and tenderness in character. Being willing to take risks and show kindness at the same time. This leads me a a challenge for you. What the areas in your life that you can begin to apply this concept in? I challenge you to stop and really think about what being gentle and bold really means and think about how you can apply the concept to your own life.
The scripture below often comes to mind when I think about this concept.
"You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great." - Psalm 18:35
Another scripture that comes to mind is,
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." - Colossians 3:12-14
There is strength in being gentle and being slow to act taking the time to first listen. Scripture tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. I think that when we begin to show gentleness to those around us, we begin to see the world around us in a different light. We begin to see light within the dark.
Gentleness is strength and is worth so much more than many of us realize. It is often seen as weakness, but friends believe me when I tell you being gentle is a strength never a weakness. Let it be said that we as believers display a gentle boldness unlike anything the world has ever seen.
Gentleness is one of the fruits of the spirit mentioned in Galatians 5,
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." - Galatians 5:22-23
Live gentle and bold friends! Be willing to take risks and show kindness as you do. Be confident in who God has made you to be and be the light He has called you to be. Remember you are the salt and light of the earth. The hands and feet of Jesus here on earth. Be gentle and bold in how you walk, how you talk, and how you respond.
You're loved friend and oh so valuable! God has had a plan and purpose marked out for you since the beginning. He knows everything about you and still continuously pours out His love and mercy on each of us. Be gentle and be bold, most of all remember you are loved!
Much Love friends,
Alianna