Doing good

Men's initial reaction when people do them bad is to fight back.  Reciprocate evil with evil.  It is so embarrassing to admit but yes, I was like that.

When people hurt me; through words or deeds, my initial reaction was be angry, raise the red flag up and blast right back at them.  I reciprocate their tone with my equally high notes of howl.  In the end, conflict intensifies.  They feel bad, I feel bad, pain is inflicted on both ends.

Sitting right next to one of the most patient people I have ever met, I slowly realize the value of being slow to anger, and being silent whenever the need arises.  Through her I realized that I should not reciprocate evil with evil, but with kindness.  Though I will be hypocrite if I say that I always have time to control my temper, because sometimes I also slip and slide, often, I am able to pause, think and breathe before I speak and argue.

I realized that it will give them more of my understanding if I will not answer back, if I will not argue back, If I give them more time to blurt out what they want until they have calmed themselves down.  I have learned to control my temper and take time to listen to my heart that tells me not to speak so quickly without thinking what to say.  

I learned that if people do bad to us, it is indeed a victory for us if we reciprocate them with kindness.  Not only that we have proven to them that there is a greater understanding by being calm but also we have proven that there shouldn't be any conflict as long as people are willing to wait until other people are done with their piece.

John wesley said..."let us do all the good that we can, by all the means that we can, in all the ways that we can, in all the places that we can, at all times that we can, to all the people that we can, as long as we ever can."

I know I haven't perfected the art of self control, but I will continue to practice it because I know, it will bring me closer to HIM.  I will continue to try and reciprocate bad deeds with good deeds, hate with love, rage with serenity, impartiality with equality to give honor and glory to THE ONE above.