Bible Reading - Exodus 39, John 18, Proverbs 15, Philippians 2
A Soft Answer Turns Away Wrath
My daughters learned Proverbs 15:1 in Urban Kids and the version they learned goes something like this, "gentle words turn anger away, but mean words stir up anger". They have these cute little motions and expressions that go with it to help them remember it. We enjoy rehearsing it often. The ESV says it this way, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger".
This scripture is so true and one we all need to practice more often in just about every area of our life. Not too long ago I was in Costco shopping with my wife when someone rammed my foot with his cart. I turned around to see who it was and I was going to say no worries as I thought they were going to apologize but as I turned I did not get an apology at all. The guy who rammed my foot said, "that is what you get for cutting in front of me". Although this person's words were far from kind this would have been a great place for me to actually practice Proverbs 15:1 and I wish I could say that is what I did. I had some quick mean words to respond to this man for what he had done and said to me. The rest of the trip through Costco turned into an hour long stair down between me and this man (I felt like a elementary school student again).
In the above true story my mean words escalated the situation, ruined my shopping trip and this other man's shopping trip. To be honest, it ruined most of the rest of my day. When the Bible says mean words stir up anger I always use to think that my mean words stir up anger in the person I am talking to. Where this is a true, I also discovered through my weird trip to Costco that my mean words also stirred up anger in me. When I said mean words to this person I got more enraged. My mean words were actually stirring up anger in me making the situation worse all the way around.
There is a reason Proverbs is considered a wisdom book of the Bible. As seen in this instance mean words really do stir up anger. I have learned a lot from this trip to Costco and will never look at the verse my daughters have been learning in Urban Kids the same.
Tomorrows Bible Reading - Exodus 40, John 19, Proverbs 16, Philippians 3
Dream Big
Ben
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Sunday, March 28, 2010
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1 comment:
I actually laughed really hard reading this blog. I think he was rude but you are totally right, you can't let what other do determine your response, for not only will it affect them but it will affect you.
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