Gentle, Strong Enough to Break a Bone. Whoa!

Gentle rain,

Gentle breeze,

Gentle as a lamb,

Gentle heart,

Gentle voice,

Gentle words,

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
P R O V E R B S 1 5 : 1

Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone.
P R O V E R B S 2 5 : 1 5

As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
E P H E S I A N S 4 : 1 - 5

Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.  Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes.  Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.
1 P E T E R 3 : 1 - 4

Before anyone gets lofty ideas, those of you who are gentle by nature, and before anyone gets insanely overwhelmed and mad and frustrated and freaked out by that last verse, those of you who are like me, in no way gentle or submissive by nature, especially where your husband is concerned - I'm by nature neither gentle nor submissive- you can ask Charlie and you can ask my 4 daughters.  Still - here is the improvement.  At age 59 that verse doesn't freak me out.  It doesn't stress me out.  Charlie is a believer, but I believe it can apply to just living out our lives before our husbands to influence them as they grow in Christ - if they are indeed in Christ - redeemed.  I'm just saying let's remember - what God asks of us - He provides the means to accomplish.  It's His business.  Lay ourselves at His feet - in our inadequacy - and allow Him to do the work.  I pray it won't take as long for each of you as it is taking for me.

Psst!!! (Whisper) Look what he asks of the guys.....  :-)  ......  Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.  Cool!  Huh?