The second of a three-part series.  Check out part one!

Words that haunt are often those spoken in the heat of the moment.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1 (NIV)

My husband is good with the gentle answer part. Me? Not so much. I get my feathers ruffled a bit too easily. I am prone to fly off the handle when angry, saying things I often regret later.

James 1:19 says, “Take note of this. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.”

It’s not always easy to exercise self-control, but if we spend more time listening, we might understand what’s actually happening, rather than jumping to conclusions.

“Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Proverbs 16:24 (NIV)

Oh boy, I fail with that one. A good goal though. I do think I need to try harder.

The thing about anger is, it seldom accomplishes anything, except maybe to push away the person you are hollering at.  The words you are spouting out get lost in the air as the target of your anger shuts down. If you’re screaming, the other person begins to feel justified to turn away and ignore everything you are saying. So instead of communicating, an impasse is created. Mission not accomplished! Better to maintain control and speak in a respectful voice, difficult as that may be in the moment.

And then there’s this: Continue reading Words That Haunt, Part Two →