Gentleness
Philippians 4:5, 1 Peter 3:15-16
About the Song
This is a super practical song aimed at maybe a little bit younger kid than the rest of the album is. I wrote the chorus to this song years ago, because a parent asked me to (something I don't expect I'll ever do again!). Recently, though, the words to the verses came from hard lessons I had to try to teach a bunch of Kindergartners about how we relate to each other in a Christ-like manner.
This is a good heart-check song for me. There is serious accountability involved with listening to a kid's voice while he or she songs along with me "teach me to forgive as You have always forgiven me."
The Bible doesn't just call us to be gentle, but to let our gentleness be evident to all. It's not extraordinary to train yourself to bite your tongue when you feel like saying something ugly (although, for the kids, that's a great place to start!). It's one thing to force yourself to be nice all the time, but it's quite another for the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart to be pleasing to the Lord, for you to always have an answer for the hope you have in Christ Jesus, and for everything you do to be for the glory of God. When we gear ourselves toward the latter, we don't become pushovers, but instead become models of Godly and Biblical principles like love, forgiveness, and compassion. You probably need to teach your kid how to bite their tongue sometimes, but make sure they also know that their gentleness is meant to be evident - that others are blessed when our actions and words reflect the Gospel and glorify God.
This song is meant to more or less speak for itself. It was written with some specific challenges in mind that kids in the 4-7 year-old range deal with. I hope that this song is a good tool for helping kids remember why it's so important to be gentle!
Lyrics
There are times when I forget to be careful what I'm saying
My mouth can get carried away
I say things that I don't mean to be mean or hurtful
But those things are hurtful anyway
But I want to bring You glory with my words
Help me build up, not tear down
To bless and not to curse
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life
There are times when someone else makes me sad or angry
And it's just too hard to let it go
And even though it doesn't help, I just stay sad and angry
until I start to lose control
But anger is a heavy weight and You've called me to be free
So help me to forgive like You have always forgiven me!
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life
I always want to show how good You are
So help me love like you love, Jesus, even when it's hard
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life
Philippians 4:5, 1 Peter 3:15-16
About the Song
This is a super practical song aimed at maybe a little bit younger kid than the rest of the album is. I wrote the chorus to this song years ago, because a parent asked me to (something I don't expect I'll ever do again!). Recently, though, the words to the verses came from hard lessons I had to try to teach a bunch of Kindergartners about how we relate to each other in a Christ-like manner.
This is a good heart-check song for me. There is serious accountability involved with listening to a kid's voice while he or she songs along with me "teach me to forgive as You have always forgiven me."
The Bible doesn't just call us to be gentle, but to let our gentleness be evident to all. It's not extraordinary to train yourself to bite your tongue when you feel like saying something ugly (although, for the kids, that's a great place to start!). It's one thing to force yourself to be nice all the time, but it's quite another for the words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart to be pleasing to the Lord, for you to always have an answer for the hope you have in Christ Jesus, and for everything you do to be for the glory of God. When we gear ourselves toward the latter, we don't become pushovers, but instead become models of Godly and Biblical principles like love, forgiveness, and compassion. You probably need to teach your kid how to bite their tongue sometimes, but make sure they also know that their gentleness is meant to be evident - that others are blessed when our actions and words reflect the Gospel and glorify God.
This song is meant to more or less speak for itself. It was written with some specific challenges in mind that kids in the 4-7 year-old range deal with. I hope that this song is a good tool for helping kids remember why it's so important to be gentle!
Lyrics
There are times when I forget to be careful what I'm saying
My mouth can get carried away
I say things that I don't mean to be mean or hurtful
But those things are hurtful anyway
But I want to bring You glory with my words
Help me build up, not tear down
To bless and not to curse
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life
There are times when someone else makes me sad or angry
And it's just too hard to let it go
And even though it doesn't help, I just stay sad and angry
until I start to lose control
But anger is a heavy weight and You've called me to be free
So help me to forgive like You have always forgiven me!
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life
I always want to show how good You are
So help me love like you love, Jesus, even when it's hard
And give me gentle words and gentle hands
A gentle heart that always helps me understand
how to see the world through loving eyes
and show Your goodness through the gentleness in my life