Another House Cleaning Day success! MJ and I have been having good folk clean our house for the past 22 years and more. Months ago we decided we could do it with Jonathon’s assistance. We each receive $50 per cleaning session and we are subsequently highly motivated. We purchased some nice cleaning tools for old folks and have become technicians. I often feel accomplished and it is a bit like going to work…a little.

After church yesterday I was thinking about our Pastor Kerry. He is a gentle soul. Gentle is good! We seem to live in a society where abrasive behaviors are praised and fill the false narrative of courage and wisdom. ‘He shall feed His flock like a shepherd; He shall gather the lambs with His arms and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young.’ Isaiah 40:11 KJ21

Leadership Games are what so many of us have become accustomed to. Over my 32-year career at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale, I was amazed at how many people equated overbearing supervisors and managers, and administrators with effective and strong wise leaders. I have witnessed many people weep at the shoddy and abusive treatment that they were receiving from their Boss. People became ill and the goals of the organization suffered while the king or queen on their make-believe throne felt powerful and removed from the precious humans that they were blessed to work with.

Gentle is captivating. Hope for tomorrow springs from being treated in a gentle manner. Since the Pandemic, many people have lost touch with friends or are seeking other humans to bond with. Why must we focus on what others are doing wrong or how we would like to change them and instead focus on what they are doing right and how we would like to emulate them.

Gentle create harmony where there was disharmony. Many marriages have been lost to divorce when only if the participants could seek gentleness instead of harsh words of wrongs done.

Gentle is the road marker to understanding. The kinder that you are to me…the more I listen to your thoughts and plans and hopes and dreams. A dynamic work of cooperation is the fruit of being gentle. Change is the direct result of gentle interaction with each other.