There is an old Celtic verse that warms my spirit. It says, “The tide recedes but leaves behind bright seashells on the sand; The sun goes down, but gentle warmth still lingers on the land; The music stops, and yet it echoes on in sweet refrains... For every gentle act that passes, something beautiful remains.” The quality of gentleness is one that has been greatly admired throughout history. It emanates from strength and humility. This is most noticeable in difficult times when someone rises above the fray to extend a thoughtful gesture of kindness.There is a story about George Washington that demonstrates the gentle man. It is said that he was fox hunting with a group of friends. His horse jumped a wall and knocked off a stone. Washington immediately stopped, got down from the horse, and replaced the stone. One of his friends said, “You are too big a man to bother with that.” He replied gently, “No, I am just the right size.” He shows us that we can be considerate, courteous and modest while still getting the job done. Washington takes the time to be deliberate and kind. His action dispels the notion that arrogance accompanies power.
Becoming a gentler person requires thoughtfulness and practice. The rewards are great. Where anger flares up, gentleness calms down. Where anger is a bursting flame gentleness is a gentle rain. Where anger asserts itself and crushes, gentleness embraces and quiets and soothes. Our presence as a gentle person improves our ability to affect change. The thoughtfulness required makes it difficult to hurt others unintentionally. We emerge as a leader with integrity. One of the basic requirements is that we slow ourselves down. Take time. There are few things in life that actually require our urgency. Considering the impact and consequences of our actions prior to performing them will improve the outcomes every time. Be gentle. You will be remembered for that.
