We picture strength in terms of toughness and force, but what if gentleness was its real root? How can we turn gentle hearts into our greatest strength?
“Our greatest strength lies in the gentleness and tenderness of our heart.” – Rumi, 13th century Persian poet
My younger son loves to show me his muscles. He comes over and clenches his fists, scrunches up his face, and waits for me to express the proper amount of amazement at his 6-year-old biceps.
I find it pretty adorable, but at the same time, I feel the urge to unclench those fists and look him in the eye. I want to say, “These muscles are great, but they aren’t why you’re strong. You’re strong because this is strong.” I would tap his little chest that houses a very big heart.
I’m fairly sure that if I did do and say those things, he would look at me like I was crazy before mentioning how he can pick up the 10-pound dumbbell in the corner of the living room. Such is heartfelt conversations with 6-year-old boys.
But he’s not the only one who equates strength with muscles, with being tough and forceful. We often personify strength as a person who overcomes obstacles by sheer will, whether it’s mental or physical toughness. I admit I’m a sucker for a memoir written by someone like this.
Strength isn’t exclusively rooted in toughness though. Strength can grow from a foundation of gentleness.
The gentle roots of strength
Having a gentle heart could be seen as a weakness, and by many, it is. But what if having a gentle heart was where a person actually found their strength?
It’s true that gentleness often goes hand in hand with tenderness and vulnerability. Being gentle means the risk of hurt is much higher than a heart encased in ice or stone.
It’s a lot harder to stay open and vulnerable than to shut out others and push through to your goal at any cost.
Gentleness is difficult to maintain in the face of hard circumstances, insensitive people, and everyday pain. Heart scars can easily become thick with tissue that protects, but feels nothing. Remaining gentle, even when the world is not a gentle place, can lead to a lot of hurt.
But it also creates a well of strength that those who don’t value gentleness cannot access. Like a reed that bends with the wind so that it doesn’t snap, a gentle heart stays soft so it doesn’t break.
Being gentle, holding your heart open, is your greatest strength. No matter how hard life becomes, don’t let it callous over the parts of you that make you strong.
Have a blessed Monday!
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