Meekness is Controlled Strength

Anger is never without a reason but seldom a good one. -Benjamin Franklin
For some reason we think the loud mouth, foolish person is a strong person while the reserved and controlled person is weak, but nothing could be further from the truth. It takes no strength to lose control. Any fool can do that. It takes a person of character to compose themselves when they would rather attack. When we look back in history, the people we consider respected and strong were people strong enough to control themselves. Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, and Theodore Roosevelt are just a few examples. The Bible teaches that meekness is strength under control. Think about this: A wild horse has all kinds of power but is unusable while a “broken in” and controlled horse has the same raw power but is usable. Jesus had the power and right to destroy all mankind for our sins yet instead of acting out in anger, he acted out in love and followed through with His plan of redemption. Keep in mind, He took God the Father's anger, toward our sin, on the cross. Don't misunderstand me, I am not saying there are no consequences for wrong; that would be foolish, but losing control and looking like fools is not the answer. That only breeds disrespect. I love President Roosevelt's famous quote: "speak softly but carry a long stick." The truly strong person is not the one who is controlled by the circumstances but the one who can act appropriately despite the circumstances.