A Gentle Power

I was completely taken aback.

I was reading in the book of Proverbs when I came across this verse,

“By long forbearance a ruler is persuaded, And a gentle tongue breaks a bone.”
-Proverbs 25:15

Now, this could be interpreted a variety of ways, but what spoke to me was the second part:

A gentle tongue breaks a bone.

In this world, it is far too easy to be harsh. So much so, that we hardly bat an eye when someone speaks with harsh or unkind words. They certainly still can cause damage, but they’re also no surprise. We know life is hard, people take things out on others, and speak without thinking.

And yet, a gentle tongue breaks a bone.

Perhaps this isn’t to say that we can hurt others with gentleness, but that there is great power and strength in gentleness. It is easy to be cruel. It is easy to speak without thinking. To dismiss others.

But using gentleness, takes strength. Self-discipline. Humility. Love.

Harshness keeps our heart hard, but gentleness is like the last little knock that causes the dam to burst. For emotions to be released. For hurts to be revealed. For true vulnerability to come loose. Gentle words bring us closer together and slowly bind up what was torn in carelessness.

We have the power of life and death in our tongues. The words we speak to others are strong enough to break bones. But the choice of using words that are harsh or gentle is ours.

For the One who made us is gentle, and He can do anything. He has all power, strength, and authority. Yet it is His still, small voice that speaks kindness, forgiveness, love, and comfort. I want to be like Him. I may fail a hundred times, but with His strength I can do all things.

We can do all things.

Until another moment,

Jasmine