What is your natural tendency when someone bites you with their words?
If you are anything like me, you probably have a less than honoring reaction. You bite back with unkind words. Your goal is often to put the person back in their place with words that sting.
It’s a vicious cycle.
Someone says some unkind to you. You return it with more unkind remarks. It goes back and forth until relationships are damaged often beyond repair. Feelings are hurt, and emotional scars have been left as permanent reminders of the pain inflicted by someone’s tongue.
You are guilty of it, and I am guilty of it too.
So how do we stop the cycle?
I think we can learn a lot from Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well.” Jesus (Matthew 5:38-40)
Here are some things we can learn from these words: