Hi, I'm Sheridan Voizzi, and this is Our Daily Bread.

I've entitled this devotional, difficult people, and I hope it brings some encouragement

to your day.

Lucy Warsley is a British historian and TV presenter.

Like most people in the public eye, she sometimes

receives nasty mail, in her case over a mild speech impediment that makes her

ars sound like W's. One person wrote this, Lucy, I'll be blunt. Please try harder to correct

your lazy speech or remove ours from your scripts.

I couldn't sit through your TV series because it made me so annoyed.

Regards Darren.

For some people, an insensitive comment like this might trigger an equally rude reply.

But here's how Lucy responded.

Oh, Darren, I think you've used the anonymity of the internet to say something you probably wouldn't say to my face. Please reconsider

your unkind words. Lucy. Lucy's measured response worked. Darren apologized and vowed not to send anyone such an email again.

A gentle answer turns away Roth, Proverbs 15 verse 1 says, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

While the hot-tempered person stirs things up, the patient person calms them down.

When we get a critical comment from a colleague,

a snide remark from a family member, or a nasty reply from a stranger, we have a choice.

To speak angry words that fuel the flames or gentle words that douse them.

May God help us to speak words that turn away wrath, and perhaps even help difficult people to change.

Today's scripture reading is from Proverbs 15 verses 1 to 7 and verse 18.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

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