Showing Grace - An old Quaker bought a cantankerous dairy cow and every milking session became a battle of the wills. Determined to demonstrate grace under fire the old man refused to react when Bessie stomped on his foot, whipped him in the face with her tail, and knocked over the milk bucket. Finally she kicked him against the barn wall and that did it!!! Glowering, he growled, "Thou knowest I'm a Quaker and cannot strike thee back - but I can surely sell thee to a Presbyterian!" When you are the injured party, it's hard to be gracious and finish the job at hand. That's when you need "more grace" and to keep in mind a few important principles.
(a) Conflicting viewpoints help you to grow. If you've ever been around teens you can relate. They're experts at coming up with unconventional, off-the-wall opinions that challege you and keep you honest. (b) Never resort to character assassination. Disagreeing is one thing, destroying somebody is another. Some of the most vicious personal attacks, public and private, have been waged over religion and politics. If you must fight, fight fair. (c) When you lose, take it on the chin. Instead of endlessly rehearsing old grievances, "Help others with encouraging words, don't drag them down by finding fault" (Ro 14:14-19 TM). (d) Sometimes it's necessary to go separate ways. When Paul and Barnabas argued over whether or not John Mark should travel with them, "There followed a sharp disagreement between them" (Acts 15:39 AMP). End of story? No, just the beginning of 2 different ministries! So be gracious! What's happening to you right now may well be God's way of moving you into a new area of blessing
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