But the fruit of the Spirit is gentleness. Galatians 5:22-23

Being gentle does not come easily for me. I struggle against it. I tend to blurt something out because it needs to be said but often it comes across blunt and uncaring. Even as I write this I’m thinking, “yeah, so what? Why is this even an issue? You lay the subjects out on the table and let the chips fall where they may. It’s not as if you’re lying when you tell people.” True. But my gruffness is often misinterpreted as mean and uncaring.

Case in point. This week I was meeting with a high ranking government official for work. She was speaking but I interrupted her (without realizing it at the time) because I had a point I needed to make. It didn’t take me long to realize what I had done (mainly because I happened to glimpse at the horrified looks on the faces of my co-workers in the room).

Part of it, I suppose, is how we were reared and who we hang around with now. (Ask a close friend some time if you come across as gentle and caring in your speech and actions, and you might be surprised at the answer). But it certainly doesn’t mean we can’t change. In fact, if we are this way, we need to change, for if others view us as mean and uncaring, what does that tell them about who we serve?

Here I go again, it’s not about us, is it?