Living In Gentleness
by Michael Doyle

Open-armed and opened-handed to receive
I live by that which I believe
Looking with godly eyes is part of worship
Lived within our loving relationships

Gentleness takes intention to live out
But it is harder still to live without
We must not be unthinking in what we say
But be kind and compassionate in what we display

We must speak words carved with humility
And allow others to live in their dignity
These words spoken have the power to heal
Or they can hurt, cost, and even kill

We must invest our words not in hurtful assessments
But instead, in ways that prove a worthy investment
Words have an impact that too often hauntingly last
Therefore, we must steward the words that we cast

Being careful in what it is that we do and that we say
Is to make the most of the best found in everyday
Not just for ourselves but for all of God's precious family
And our charge and duty given to us in gentle humility

Meaningful silence has more power than saying the meaningless
Reactive words that are hurtfully spoken and too often careless
This cruelty separates us from God in all of its impurity
Instead, let us turn toward the sharpness of mental sensitivity

We must not be too governed by our base sensuality
But instead, be grounded in our spirituality
Living by critical thinking and by what is discerned
By living in our new selves as we have learned

Walking in righteousness keeps us within our holiness
As we live by the compass that  fulfills us in peacefulness,
God speaks into our lives as we constantly live and renew
Allowing the necessary changes of heart and points of view

We must not allow any anger to turn our souls toward sin
And not allow the night to fall before finding peace again
We are all a part of the body of God's endearing family
And knowing this requires we walk in truth and humility

We must allow truthfulness to become our declarative
As we refuse to live too deeply by any passing narrative
Being authentic, we must not allow the Devil a foothold
This is the spiritual dynamic that we are openly told

The Devil's foot hold too often becomes a stranglehold
We must not allow this to be manipulated into letting unfold
Satan seeks to destroy goodness and to savagely devour
Because of this, we must be mindful in every hour

To walk godly, we must elevate our perspective
Always keeping this in mind and being reflective
Of the temptations that too readily abound
Instead, being the kindness and compassion needed found

For conflicts to be resolved, we need to be accepting as we walk
Yet, we need to be assertive in the manner by which we speak
We must not reject or allow ourselves too much passivity
But instead, functionally act with authentic receptivity 

These are the ways of God spoken openly and clearly
And the principles and character we must live by deeply
May our words be subjected to and by gentle conviction
And be the message we live by as our daily benediction

(c) November 5, 2023   Michael Doyle
All Rights Reserved