Love and Tenderness

“Tenderness and kindness are not signs of weakness and despair, but manifestations of strength and resolutions.” ~ Kahlil Gibran

Kahlil Gibran’s quote gives us much to reflect on.  When we think about tenderness and love we often imagine a mother holding a new born child.  The tenderness and love which the mother shows her child is a true reflection of how we should treat one another.  Being tender and loving does not mean one is weak by any stretch of the imagination.  I believe it means the polar opposite.  Showing tenderness, love and compassion is what we are called to do as Christians.

The beautiful prayer by St. Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands, with which he blesses all the world.  Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, Yours are the eyes, you are his body.  Christ has no body now but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.  Christ has no body now on earth but yours” models for us what we are truly called to.  We are called to be Christ for one another – to treat one another with love and tenderness.  Let us remember this reality as we continue the daily journey of life.

Pat Schifini, OSU