A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1 ESV
Do you ever stop to think what might have happened if you had reacted to a situation differently? Perhaps it was the classic scenario where someone said to did something wrong and you, being fully justified, explodes on how dare they do/say such a thing and the whole situation dissolves into a heated shouting match. Or perhaps, instead of exploding, you choose a more subtle route, a passive aggressive comment or a biting side remark to just drive home the point that you are right and they are in the wrong. While the second example may not dissolve into a shouting match, it is unlikely, nay, impossible for you both to leave on good terms and in pleasant tempers.
Unfortunately, these examples are far too common. Its just too easy to fall back into this way of reacting, because the other way is hard. It is hard to change our automatic processing, ingrained over decades, but it is possible. If it was not possible there would be no point to the verse encouraging us to chose a better way.
Let us become a people of kind and even tempers, full of love and grace, even for the most annoying and deserving people. This is a very practical way to glorify God.
♡
Musings by Tee 