Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

— Colossians 3:12 (KJV)

The image of putting something on makes me think about how I enter a conversation. I can arrive ready to defend my point, or I can take a moment to remember that there’s a person on the other side of it.

Imagine getting a message that sounds abrupt. Before replying in the same tone, I can read it again and ask whether I’m filling in something the writer didn’t intend. A plain question might clear up what an irritated answer would make worse.

Gentleness takes practice in those small exchanges. I’d like to make it easier for someone to tell me what they meant, especially when my first reading left me feeling annoyed.