“Mom, can I have it if you can’t fix it?” my daughter, Micayla, asked me for the fifth consecutive time this afternoon. After complaining that she didn’t have any jewelry, she convinced me last month to let her borrow one of my favorite necklaces. “Okay,” I told her. “But you have to be careful with it.” She was cautious all morning, but once the chain started itching her, it was a totally different story.“Mom, get it off me, please. I can’t stand it!”

“Micayla, I can’t while I’m driving. We’ll be there in two minutes and I’ll help you then.”

“Never mind. I got it off. Oh….oops. Sorry.”

That broken piece of jewelry has sat in my car ever since, knowing the odds of repairing it were slim to none, while also knowing that if it couldn’t be fixed, the once coveted necklace would suddenly transfer ownership to my daughter. Sensing my hesitancy to admit defeat, Micayla picked up said necklace yet again this afternoon. I love my daughter dearly, but I think there was a conspiracy going as she managed to break it–for the second time!

I tried to be gentle and calm when the necklace originally broke. Micayla obviously felt horrible and I wanted to do everything in my power to help her realize it was merely an accident. But today, tired and worn out from my 1½ year old’s new-found ability to throw a class-act temper tantrum, serenity eluded me.

“Just because you keep breaking my necklace doesn’t mean I have to give it to you.” The edge on my words was sharper than the jagged pieces of my once-beautiful necklace. “You should…..oh, hi.” I interrupted myself as a neighbor made his way up the walk–a neighbor I’m hoping to invite to the Bible study my husband and I will be starting soon. The “phone” voice immediately took over. You know the one. You’re mad at your husband or friend for something, but the phone rings and all of a sudden your voice exudes a peace and calm that was obviously missing a few minutes ago. “Hello?” you sweetly sing into the handset.

Gentleness is found within each one of us, but sometimes we need motivation to utilize it. Oftentimes, that incentive comes from knowing there is someone other than a close friend or family member listening.

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.” Philippians 4:5

Ouch. I guess there really is someone else listening.

Lord, even when I’m weary, hurt or disappointed, work in me so that my gentleness may be evident to all.