2024, a Year Marked By…

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” ~Mahatma Gandi

​2024 is almost upon us, friends! Around this time of year, we think of new beginnings, changes we wish to make, and the creation of the dreaded “New Year’s Resolution.” If you’re anything like me, my New Year’s Resolutions crystallize with high hopes and grand expectations, yet the follow-through is ever-elusive. The prospect of pressing a massive reset button once a year sounds exciting until the moment of execution arrives. Then, the daunting reality of the task starts to set in. Thus, I decided to throw out “New Year's Resolutions” and pick up a new tradition in which I “mark” the year with a single theme. I chose to press a smaller reset button by allowing this single theme to infuse each day with its message. 

Two years ago, I felt called to mark the new year by grace. At the time, I felt weighed down by the world’s harrowing standard of perfection and decided to pick up God’s healing standard of grace. Dedicating a year to grace changed how I view myself and my actions. It allowed me to give myself the space and grace to grow and learn without letting shame and doubt seep in.

Last year, I asked, “If I can learn to have grace for myself, what comes next?” What materialized from this question was a theme of acceptance. If we can have grace for ourselves, we can accept what life throws at us, embracing it all as part of our story.

Now comes the question: “As I learn to put grace and acceptance in my back pocket, what’s the next step?” A recent encounter gave me an answer.

One day, I was at an event and met someone who acted unnecessarily rude. The particulars of the encounter are irrelevant, but I’m sure you can relate to the feeling of handling an unpleasant person. If you’re anything like me, internal animosity starts to bubble up due to feeling wronged by another. Anger sometimes gives us the illusion of retribution and justice. My immediate response was defensiveness, irritation, and hostility. Thankfully, my brother Josh was present and helped change the trajectory of my heart to see that the individual likely didn’t act out of malice but out of his insecurity. 

Josh opened my eyes to the fact that people’s behaviors have very little to do with others around them and more to do with the battles within themselves. As a result, he challenged me to respond with compassion and grace rather than hostility, for that was likely what the individual desperately needed at that time. I became so inspired by this idea of responding in gentleness that I turned to the Bible to see what God had to say about its role in the world. Here are some verses I found that speak to gentleness:

Titus 3:1-2 says, “Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

Colossians 3:12 says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”

Philippians 4:5 says, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”

Ephesians 4:2 says, “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”

Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

1 Corinthians 4:21 says, “What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit?”

Isn’t that beautiful? I encourage you to look at these verses through the lens of different Bible versions; I found the slight variation in words tugged new corners of my heart. Isn’t it true that when we stray from the path of life, love and gentleness will be more effective in bringing us home than a vengeful rod of discipline? If we can have grace for ourselves and accept our circumstances as they come, perhaps we can grow to become more gentle towards others, for the world needs more gentle souls. What would it look like to hone a reflexive response of gentleness in the face of sin?

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