I Choose My Response

I will let no man so narrow and degrade my soul as to cause me to hate him.

Booker T. Washington

June 10

I will let no man so narrow and degrade my soul as to cause me to hate him.

Booker T. Washington

I love this quote because it reminds me of my power. What others do to me is not near so damaging as what I allow my response to do to me. If I return anger for anger I become an angry person.

If I return hatred for hatred, I become hateful.

If I return neglect for neglect, I become neglectful.

If I return indifference for indifference, I become indifferent

If I return selfishness for selfishness, I become selfish.

In all this, I lose my capacity for love. I lose my joy. I lose my strength and courage.

But if I return empathy and understanding for anger, I create peace.

If I return love for hatred, my ability for love grows.

If I return compassionate care for neglect hearts can be healed.

If I return love and caring for indifference, respect, and trust can thrive.

If I return benevolence for selfishness, friendship and humanity can develop

In all of this my love grows, my patience grows, my character grows. All the fruits of the spirit grow in me, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

When I respond in the flesh sin grows; immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions,factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing. Daily, I choose life or death. I may not be able to choose all the things that will happen to me, but I choose my response. And I choose what brings life and healing.