A friend of mine, Chad Thompson, MD, gave me these two ways of responding to offensive words.
When someone offends us we can:
- Tell others about it.
- The listener begins to think less of my offender (and/or less of me).
- They join me in thinking negatively about my offender.
- I have succeeding in creating division in relationships; making myself more upset by rehashing the details over and over; and knowing and willfully disobeying God’s will by reacting according to the flesh rather than to the spirit.
OR when someone offends us we can:
- Go directly to God in prayer.
- God listens and the Holy Spirit gives me a better perspective.
- I feel peace! And the impulse to vent to others is gone.
- I have honored God by valuing unity and harmony over dissension, discord and the temporary pleasure of gossiping.