Gentleness Required With Fragile People
Do you know any VDP’s, “Very Draining People?” They’re the kind of people who say things that set you on edge and you’re convinced that they enjoy doing it. They come into your home and say, “Where did you find that wallpaper?” And it’s obvious that they’re not asking because they want to go out and buy some for themselves. They’re the kind who come right out and say, “Boy, you sure look tired today.” Deep down inside, we know that we don’t need comments like that but people like this are all around us! All around us and many times, we ourselves exhibit a lack of gentleness.
What does it mean to be gentle? Gentleness is to treat people nicely, patiently, and not abuse them or get angry with them because of their weaknesses. Gentleness involves understanding that the people around you may not have as much energy as you.... may not be as smart as you.... as gifted as you.... as focused as you.
Imagine if God treated us the way that we treat the weak. He could have very easily looked at this world and said, “I’m washing my hands of it. I don’t want to deal with it. It’s their problem.... let them get out of it.” God had every right to do that with us. Every time we pray to God, He could become angry over the fact that we are complaining to Him again. Every time we get into trouble and come back to Him for help He could say, “I’m not helping you.” What if Jesus walked by the paralytic and said to him, “Come on you lamo.... get up and walk.” Imagine if He made fun of Mary and Martha for crying at the grave of Lazarus. Imagine if God took every one of our mess ups and weaknesses and showed them to everyone and then said, “Look at this loser! Do you think I should let them into heaven?”
Thankfully, the life of Jesus shows us a different God. When Lazarus died, Jesus wept. When Peter sank into the water, Jesus grabbed him. When the lame and the sick and the demon possessed crossed His path, He felt compassion.
Jesus said to us in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Instead of using His power to crush the Roman government and the Jewish leaders, He gently laid His hands and feet on the cross and took our hell. Instead of exposing our weakness, Jesus covered them in His blood for the remission of our sins. Instead of damning us to hell, we are offered heaven. Instead of demanding us to earn our own salvation, Abba Father gave it to us free. He realized that we were weak and helpless, and He took us by the hand, gave us His Holy Spirit, and lifted us up. He continues to care for us, weak as we are. Instead of getting frustrated with us, He sticks with us. Love does that.
Being gentle isn’t an easy thing for us to do. However, when we come crying to Father, His ears are always open and His schedule is never full. He takes us in His arms time and again, treats our wounds, and sends us on our way. He’s been more than a Good Samaritan. He’s been a gentle Father.
This to me is central in learning to live loved by Him because in what He’s done for us the message t o us is, “When you see people who are on a path of self destruction.... like the woman at the well, like the woman caught in the act of adultery, like Zacchaeus.... When you see people like that treat them like I’ve treated you.... be gentle! Be careful. Their lives are so fragile. They can be easily broken. But they can also be restored. So treat them with gentleness. Pick them up & hold them gently. Show them the way to repentance, and the way back to me, because they are mine. I created them and I want them back. More than anything else, I want them back.”
Is it asking too much to emulate that gentleness? Is it asking too much to expect the same kind of care and concern from us towards others? God doesn’t think so. Should we?