The comebacker

All my life since my days as a teenager I have perfected the comebacker. I loved to have someone make a smart remark in school, at ball practice or elsewhere, I could fire back a one liner as good as anyone. I to this day, enjoy hanging with teenagers and young people and having them try to get a zinger in on me. I'll fire back with my best shot quicker than they realize. I have always enjoyed this ability, but there are times where it is not so useful. My prayers as a young adult were for GOd to help me use that same tongue, that same mindset to put out fires as well. For God to give me the wisdom to handle intense situations in a way that takes away the intensity. THis, I am still working on for sure.
Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stis up anger." In recent days I have had my turn of people attacking what I do. Nothing major, but just questioning and at times they are seemingly mad about it. It's easy to get mad because at times they have been mad for months about something and waited, and waited to let me know about it. I have probably had a dozen conversations with them over the past months but not once did they let me know about it. We sit down, and it seems they are firing darts at me left and right. One after another until I feel myself wanting to fire back.
Why didn't you tell me this months ago? Are you kidding me, that could not sound more selfish! And other things like that, instead I just continue to listen and then let them know I love them, I pray for them daily and close the time out with prayer where it is appropriate. I find that this has made endings so much better. No defending myself, no fighting back, just listening and loving. Proverbs 15:1 could not be truer than in these instances. Those times I look back over where as a teen or a younger man I defended myself. I fought back and I plead my case so as to win, in the end I did not win. The only way to win in those situations, especially with church members is to love them and let them do all the fighting. Then, you walk away and what was victorious was God, and He was in control the whole time.
So try to take a deep breath and return anger and unhappiness with love. God will bless your days and your relationships if you can just learn to do this. I know I'm better now for having done it, and have better relationships with others having done it, but I certainly have not perfected it.
Thanks for reading and have a great day!