When I studied the beatitudes, and what stood out for me was meekness. Meekness. Such an interesting word.
Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
I’ve shunned meekness for the majority of my life thinking it synonymous with weakness. Only lately, I realized it is a form of strength. My heart has a much easier time succumbing to reactionary emotion, anger, and self-righteousness than it does responding calmly, putting someone else first, and genuinely retreating from self. Meekness takes strength.
Visceral human emotions master me.
Merriam-Webster defines meekness as, “enduring injury with patience and without resentment.” With patience. Without resentment.
Meekness is quiet and kind. It is a warm breeze in summer that touches you but is barely noticed. It is the dim light of the moon reflected on the water. It is beauty and flexibility. It is standing strongly for what you believe in while speaking softly. It is giving way instead of lashing out.
They shall inherit the earth.
Yielding is an area in which I struggle. Thankfully, transformation is not too steep for God. So, I draw close to Him and pray my meekness grows little by little, bit by bit.
Hi K! I have been thinking and praying about this a lot lately. I think a lot of people think like you did that meekness=weakness. I so admire people who are meek. I think of being meek as being like a shock absorber, just taking a hit and not passing it on to someone else. Something I strive for, but fail at every day.