The Gentleness Pledge and Bible Verses

My kids sometimes need help being gentle with each other and with their neighbors.

I didn’t understand how to act with gentleness as a child, either. I remember many fist-fights and wrestling matches with my little sister over toys and whatever else we thought to fight about. I still like physical activity, and learned as I grew older how to harness my physical energy into things like basketball, water skiing, weight lifting, and self-defense. God also gave me a fairly quick wit. He taught me over the years how to use this gift with gentleness in ways that honor Him, instead of for my own gain and pleasure at the expense of others. I like to encourage others in my writing, and I like to do silly things that make other people laugh!

A couple resources help me so much as I teach my kids how to be gentle in their actions and their words. Before we homeschool each day, we take The Gentleness Pledge. We also go through The Gentleness Pledge as needed during the day. Most importantly, we spend time memorizing Bible verses about gentleness. We hide God’s Word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him. [1] Here are both resources for you to read through and use in your own home if you find them beneficial.

The Gentleness Pledge
(Repeat after me.)

I will trust Jesus as my only Savior.

I will speak kind words.

I will move around my environment with care and thoughtfulness.

I will not kick, hit, push, or harm any person in any way unless he or she is trying to hurt someone I love.

Bible Verses about Gentleness

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23
We often shorten this verse to “But the fruit of the Spirit is…gentleness. Against such thing there is no law.” I remind the kids that they can be gentle in every single situation in which God places them, even a situation that might require physical action.

You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. Psalm 18:35
Gentleness sets us as Christians apart from the rest of the world, which often behaves cruelly and harshly. Jesus gives us salvation, supports us, and makes us great through His gentle instruction.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11:29
Jesus gently guides us as our good shepherd. We must be gentle with our neighbors as we interact with them, too.

What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? 1 Corinthians 4:21
Paul wrote his letters with boldness but also gentleness. The Holy Spirit gave him the words to write, and he wrote clearly for the encouragement of the church and the building up of God’s kingdom.

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:1-2
God calls us to walk in all gentleness, not just occasionally but always. We must obey this calling as we love one another.

But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. 1 Timothy 6:11
We can pursue gentleness our entire lives, and still never reach the point where we act in gentleness in everything we do. Praise the Lord for sending Jesus to be our righteousness! I remind the kids that we can look to Him for the self-control we need to treat others with gentleness instead of harm, for God’s glory instead of our own.

[1] Psalm 119:11