Proverbs 15:1 reminds us that a soft answer turns away wrath but grievous words stirs up anger.
A few years ago, on my visit back to the hills of Jamaica where I grew up as a boy (until I migrated to Big Apple at the age fifteen). I was made aware that both my unsaved uncle and our next-door neighbor had a feud.
It was so bad that they both swore that they would kill each other if any crosses their respective property line.
Upon hearing this, my heart was pricked, because traditionally we had a loving relationship with both of our neighbors.
In fact, my neighbor was the first person who taught me how to milk a cow, yes back then we produced our own milk.
The process of getting milk from a cow is quite interesting. First, you would have to get a cord to tie the cow’s two rear feet, to prevent him from kicking you.
Then you would let the calf go and suck his or her mother’s breast to get ready the milk. The challenging part was to get the calf to release from breast feeding, because, essentially we were taking their food.
They were days we had to send for extra help to remove the calf from devouring all the milk. We would then go in and fill the milk bottles which was then sold to the community, mine was always free.
He also taught me how to ride a donkey among other things.
So when I heard the news, I went and called our neighbor, who was standing on his side of the fence, and spoke to him with a voice of humility.
I told him that I was sorry for what my uncle had done and asked for forgiveness. Unknowingly, I was enacting the principle of Proverbs 15:1.
He almost broke down into tears, as the bitterness and wrath lifted from him like a heavy burden. He then told me that because of the way I had approach him, he had forgiven us as a family and that we were once again welcomed into his home.
The process of getting milk from a cow is quite interesting
Upon hearing this, I went to my uncle as well and he had the same response.
There was another man in 1 Samuel verse 25 who did not apply this principle, in fact, he did the opposite by using grievous words to stir up anger. So much so, that he also lost his life and his entire family.
However, his wife did apply the principle and in doing so, turneth away the wrath of a king David.
A gentle answer indeed turns away wrath, you can apply this principle today and Live The Higher Life. God Bless You.
