Hands-on Faith for Families– week of 8/19/13
Showing Gentleness
Colossians 3:12
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Talking to God
Thank God for the people in your life who show you gentleness. Ask God to help you find ways to show His gentleness to others.
Diving In
Gently tap objects as you walk through your house. You can tap a window, a hardwood floor, a countertop, a glass vase or the front door. Discuss why you need to be gentle when you tap items around the house. Concentrate on how fragile items can break and hard items can hurt your hands.
Going Deeper
Sometimes your actions are what you use to "tap" the people around us. It's important to remember that you can hurt others with your behavior, just as you can be hurt by what others do. Because you are fragile, God wants you to be gentle with others. Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." Your actions are evidence of your gentleness, and when you make an effort to be gentle with others, you show God's character to the world.
Talking to Each Other
• What is one thing you do that shows gentleness to others?
• How difficult or easy is it to show gentleness to others?
• How have others modeled gentleness to you?
• What can you do this week to show gentleness to someone?
From Focus on the Family's Thrivingfamily.com. © [2011] [Renee Gray-Wilburn]. Used by permission.
