Gentleness and Self-Control.  Two character traits that we encourage our children to embrace, yet as they learn we struggle…

I have struggled with these two things for many years.  I am far from meek yet long to be that woman who is known for her gentleness to her children, husband and community.  I want to be that woman spoken about in the following verses:

Proverbs 11:16 A gracious woman gets honor
Proverbs 31: 28 Her children rise up, and call her blessed; her husband [also], and he praises her.

Why is she gracious and praised?  She has a gentle spirit, correcting her children while extending mercies and grace upon them.  She is graceful and meek in the presence of her husband as she shows him honor as head of the household.

Me, not so much.  I lose my temper quicker than anything else I seem to attain, and instead of being merciful in a Godly character kind of way, I am hasty to yell, punish and demand.  All things that are not gentle-like.

I would like to think that the self-control issue is one and the same as the gentleness issue.  When anger or sadness boil up, it becomes a physical pain more so than the emotional pain at times.  My body wants to scream and run and fight while my soul is telling me to be still and know… but at that very moment all I know is that the fight is about to burst out of my mouth.  I want to hold it in and I do know what is right, but the pain of internal struggles is sometimes too great.

So now what?  I have learned that we all struggle with something and that we really need to instill into our inner beings the fact that God’s mercies are new every single day.  The anger you felt yesterday need not be present today.  The tears you cried last night are dry upon rising.  The anxiety from the pre-dawn hours vanish in His presences.  Every day- always new.

The Fruit of the Spirit is gentleness and self-control… Galatians 5: 23

These characteristics are also violated in many other ways that I may not struggle with, but someone does.  Violence, abuse, addiction, sexual sin, and the like…. even if it’s just a minor struggle, it’s still a lack in Godly character.  We need to stretch ourselves, seek forgiveness, and walk in the light… and as darkness creeps in, remember that His mercies are new every day.

Lamentations 3:23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning

Pineapple… it has nothing to do with gentleness (it’s a beast to cut up a fresh one) and self- control is a characteristic only for people… but it is faithful to bring you a feeling of indulging in something out of the tropics or remind you of a trip to your favorite tropical location.

I give you a yummy, lower fat pineapple recipe today.  It looks so very yummy as I type this that I may skip all regular scheduled meals and have one of these instead.