05/07/2026
This morning, as I was rushing around getting ready, I glanced over at my Bible laying open on the bed. It was opened to Proverbs 15:1, and highlighted was the verse: “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
No joke… maybe 3-4 minutes later, I look outside to see if my neighbors were about to walk by for the gazillionth time that day. I didn’t see them, so I let Wiley out (they were blocked by the trees). Next thing I know, Wiley running into the road barking at them. He didn’t bite anyone, didn’t jump on anyone, just stood a few feet away barking at my neighbor with his axe-handle walking stick that he swings around as he walks by our house 5-6 times a day.
As Wiley barked, I called him over and had him sit beside me. Meanwhile, this man is continuing to scream at me at the top of his lungs — saying he’s calling animal control, that I’m going to lose my house and every thing I own, using the Lord’s name in vain over and over toward me, calling my dog all kinds of profanities, stopped two cars to tell people my dog is aggressive,and slamming his axe cane into the ground. Tells me that it’s my responsibility to control my dog and that it would be my fault when that dog with a bunch of swear words gets put down.
And somehow… only through God… I stayed ridiculously calm and empathic (not to say I had some strong feelings after) but in that moment I was able to keep it together.
God had already spoken to me through His Word just moments before, and I was able to answer softly and calmly instead of reacting in anger. And I keep thinking about how differently that situation could’ve gone if I had responded with rage instead of calm.
Guys- there is just so much value in the Bible!
God’s word gives wisdom for every situation we walk through and sometimes the verses we read aren’t random at all… sometimes God is preparing our hearts for what’s coming before we even know we’ll need it.