Meekness is rooted in spiritual strength; the meek are truly strong. Meekness protects from hostile attacks. It passes over others’ impatience, irritation, irritability and even contempt, by either ignoring the attack or disarming the offender with a calm and serene smile.
Lack of meekness is born of pride and expresses itself in outbursts, impatience and irritability, the net result of which is loss of serenity and peace of soul. The meek person does not sulk but tells God about the problem or injury inflicted.
A woman bereft of meekness is critical, neglectful and forgetful of others because she in centered on herself. To be meek, one must do battle with the natural tendency to have the last word, to be the center of attention, to think of oneself as essential, and above all to see others in negative ways. A meek woman is not a show off. She is not boastful, but she does acknowledge her natural talents as gifts of God.
The meek woman never refuses to speak to anyone. She acknowledges that God places next to her people in some need that she cannot ignore or just pass by. She opens herself to others with words of comfort; she uses her speech to console, teach, correct in a kind and generous manner. She is being Christlike when she act meekly in dealing well with others, particularly making those around her happy. She does this with kind words, gestures, support, and encouragement as well as readiness to forgive, to let thing of no consequence just slide off. Kind-heartedness and patience understanding conquer. When she act in a meek manner she recognizes that the neighbor Christ tells you to love is whomever happens to be near her or come into her life.
Meek women avoid like a plague: useless chatter, gossiping, irrelevant arguments, sarcasm and calumny. They have their tongues under control and know when to be silent. They show a willingness to bite their tongue when injured or insulted by not retaliating. Thus, they accept the humiliations life brings and seek to use them to grow. Instead they act kindly by showing understanding of the flaws and errors of others without correcting them.
Friendly affability warms, dispels loneliness, warms hearts as does a friendly hello, giving a small complement or making a caring comment or inquiry.
The meek woman is careful not to answer back quickly or speak hurtful words. Instead, she awaits the better time and gives way in matter of opinion. She does not try to be right about everything and on the contrary, is sufficiently docile to accept advice. A readiness and willingness to change her mind indicates she is aware that there are more than one solution to a problem.
To be meek means to have self-mastery, to be self possessed and hard to rattle. The meek will inherit the earth because they are not slaves to impatience and bad temper. Instead, they are serene in the possession of God with their souls in seeking Him in prayer.
Docility is essential for growth in meekness. You cannot be docile/meek if you insist stubbornly on what you have already decided is right. The meek woman recognizes that she is not her own best advisor, and takes advantage of the suggestions and advice given her by others whom God has placed in her path as aides.We need to have a prudent distrust of our own judgment because our ego can derail us. We must permit God to mould us through others and the circumstances of our lives.
We learn to be meek and humble of heart by meditating on the Passion of our Lord who suffered so many humiliations, and by considering His humility in the Holy Eucharist where He waits for us to visit Him and speak with him. Therefore, we can walk the way of meekness accepting humiliations, accepting our defects and struggling to overcome them. Then, we will find in Him, who carries the greatest portion of our burdens, a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light.
Truth to Ponder 