Keep it Gentle

[Love] is not rude… 1 Corinthians 13:5

Props: a clear drinking glass, vase, or bowl; soft cloth and an abrasive scouring pad

 (Display vase) Today I have with me a beautiful vase that needs to be cleaned.  I have to decide how to clean it.  I could use this cloth (hold up cloth) or I could use this scouring pad (hold up scouring pad).  Which one would you use?  (Accept answers from volunteers).  If I use the soft, gentle cloth, the vase will be clean and will end up better than it was before.  But if I use the scouring pad, it will scratch the glass and the vase will be damaged, or hurt.  Glass is beautiful, but it is easily damaged, scratched and broken.  It has to be treated very carefully and gently.

People can be the same way sometimes.  It is important to respect others’ feelings because they can be hurt very easily.  Make sure your words are like the cloth, soft and gentle.  If you speak mean or rude words to people, it can be like the scouring pad on the glass.  It can hurt them.  Keep your words and actions soft and gentle as a cloth on glass.