Strong Woman

Originally published Monday, 28 January 2013.

 

I have a strong personality.  Some have described me as demonstrative.  Others domineering.  As a child my parents described me as precocious.  The other day, a customer of mine commented that my mouth never stops moving! One thing is for sure, I have a strong personality and I'm well aware of the strengths and weakness to this trait.

This is why I tripped up and almost spilled my English Breakfast morning tea as I read, a verse in the Beatitudes section of the Sermon on The Mount:

Jesus says: Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth.

MEEK! meek? Oh I am far from meek. Surly this verse doesn't apply to me, right?  Meek describes those quiet, shy, wallflower types.  What am I supposed to do with this verse?

For those of you with TYPE A, demonstrative personalities like me, chew on this definition of the word meek:

Gentle --- Those who do not assert themselves over others to further their own agenda in their own strength, but will "inherit the earth" because they trust in God to direct the outcome of event. (Taken from the English Standard Study Bible notes for Matthew 5:5)

This hit a chord with me this morning as I admit that I tend to assert myself over others from time to time.  Oh, and I will confess that I also take the reigns in situations to "further my own agenda." {ahem} In a nutshell, meekness/gentleness is something I need to work on.  Turning to Matthew 11:29, I am reminded that Jesus is the perfect example of the definition meek/gentle:

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.  Matthew 11:29

If I am living by Christ's example I am to embrace the strong personality that He blessed me with at birth while tweaking it a bit to make room for more gentleness and meekness.

So here is what I've prayerfully come up with:

~Gentleness means I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit and change my tone of voice when it teeters on the gruff or overpowering side.

~Gentleness means I lower the bar a bit and forgo the high expectations I place on others to meet standards in which I pridefully place in front of them.

~Gentleness means I halt my own agenda for a moment to consider the point of others.

~Gentleness means I recognize someone's need for the rest and peace of Jesus and point them to Him out of simple love and care for their spiritual well being.

~Gentleness means I'm slow to speak and quick to listen. (tough one for those whose mouths never stop!)

There are countless ways I need to be more gentle...

Lord, I believe You gave me a personality trait of gentleness in the form of compassion and encouragement of others.  But, I can also be pushy and demonstrative which needs to be tempered.  Help me to be gentle in my communication with others; especially those who are hurting.  Help me to not place unrealistic expectations on others and add an unnesscessary load on their shoulders, but rather guide them to Your easy and light yoke in which they will find rest.  Soften my heart, Lord.

Are you a woman with a strong personality like me?  How can you tweak it to be more gentle and meek?

I would love to hear your thoughts...

Read more from Sarah at LIVE IT OUT! blog

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