The Party

            The old comedian, Groucho Marx, once told a hostess as he was leaving a dull Hollywood party, “I’ve had a wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”

            Somehow, I think Groucho was being too direct. His response makes me think of the Proverb, “A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up” (Prov. 15:1.) CEV

Source: Edmund Fuller

Anger Management

            Winnsboro, TX youth minister Tony Tucker ran this story in a bulletin recently. The author is unknown. It goes like this:

            A guy gets in a taxi one day headed to the airport. The taxi was driving in the right lane when, suddenly, a car pulled out in front of the taxi. The taxi driver hit the brakes. The taxi skidded and barely avoided hitting the car.

            The driver of the other vehicle began shouting at the taxi driver. Bizarre, right? What was his problem?

            The taxi driver did not respond in kind. Instead, he simply smiled and waved.

            The passenger was amazed. He asked him how he was able to keep his cool.

            The taxi driver kept his cool because of “The Law of the Garbage Truck.”

            “The Law of the Garbage Truck” refers to the fact that many people are like garbage trucks. They operate in life full of frustration, anger, disappointment… in other words, full of garbage.

            In time, their garbage truck becomes too full. They need to dump some of their garbage. When they do, that place may be—on you.

            The key is to not take it personally when they dump their garbage. Smile. Wave at them. Wish them well. Then, move on.

            Never take their garbage with you and spread it on other people you know at home, school, work, or anywhere else.

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger (Prov. 15:1.) ESV

A Soft Answer

A proverb I always try to remember is Prov. 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”

A good example of how hard it is to live out this teaching is found in a story appearing in READER’S DIGEST several years ago:

            A woman who frequented a small antiques shop rarely purchased anything but always found fault with the merchandise and prices. The manager and her salesclerk took the woman's grumpy complaints in stride, but one day she went too far. "Why is it I never manage to get what I ask for in your shop?" demanded the woman.

            A smile on her face, the clerk calmly replied, "Perhaps it's because we're too polite."