Our family used to have a cat named Jack. Jack was lean and quick and equipped with sharp claws. He was more than capable of getting whatever he wanted. Our children were young and sometimes they were too rough with him. But Jack could take care of himself. When his patience ran out, he would swing quickly and accurately with his paw, but he’d never put out his claws.  He never scratched our children even though he had every right. He was a gentle cat.

I think of Jack’s gentleness when I read the Bible’s description of Jesus as being gentle. Now I realize that Jack wasn’t a Christian, but he was gentle in the way that Christians are to be gentle. Living God’s way means that even in situations where we might feel justified in lashing out with our claws, we choose instead to be kind to others – even if they don’t deserve it.