Not long ago there was a discussion I was involved in and I was asked to answer.   I gave a Biblical answer, which some did not like, and others who became uncomfortable with the discussion left.  As I was leaving for my duties, I overheard one of them say a curse word at me.  I can’t deny the cutting word didn’t hurt me, for it did.  I was trying to stand for Truth and was cursed with a word for doing so.  I would stand for Truth regardless, but yes, it was hurtful.

As the afternoon and evening wore on I continued thinking about what happened and I became angry for the injustice.  I had it planned and nourished the words in my heart to speak to them about the expletive as I was leaving the room the day before.  But after prayer and reading Scripture, my mind changed.  I decided the best course was to remain silent, for a far greater cause than my feelings was at stake.  There were people present that day to think about.  Our Lord could have done anything He wanted in the Garden of Gethsemane when they came for Him, but He didn’t.  He rose above retaliation for the higher good of mankind.  His innocent blood shed on a very cruel cross for me.  If the Son of God can endure what He endured for me, then one word to me is absolutely nothing on the scale of what He suffered.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own:  but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the Word that I said unto you.  The servant is not greater than his lord.  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you:  if they have kept My saying, they will keep yours also.  But these things will they do unto you for My names sake, because they know not Him that sent Me.  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin:  but now they have no cloak for their sin.”    John 15:18-22

The next day, though the room was very quiet when I entered, within a few moments all were talking as though nothing happened the day before.  The silence as I entered the room was quite surprising to me.  I’m really not sure why they were quiet, perhaps they thought I was going to retaliate, but I held my peace and said nothing.  Though others may do us wrong, God will take care of the matter in His own time and own way, and who knows if a seed had not been planted the day before, and my saying something in retaliation to the person, might have destroyed the planting of the seed.  Only time will tell.  And no.  I am not angry with the person and harbor no ill will.  Disappointed.  Yes.   Surprised. No.

He that hateth Me hateth My Father also.  If I had not done among them the works which none other man did, they had not had sin:  but now have they both seen and hated both Me and My Father.  But this cometh to pass,that the Word might be fulfilled that is written in their law.  They hated Me without a cause.”    John 15:23-25

“Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!  for so did their fathers to the false prophets.”      Luke 6:26

“See that none render evil for evil unto any man:  but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.”    I Thessalonians 5:15

The following quote was given in a lesson before I became a teenager.  My teacher, a young lady, and a senior in high school.  I have had these words in my heart since.  I pray they help you as well.

“Keep your words sweet.  Always say less than you think.  And if someone should say something bad about you, live as though no one would believe it anyway.”
~ Claudia Stephens

Eileen Light