A friend was happily planting her garden a few months ago when a complete stranger walked up and said, “Too late for that.” It made her angry (partly because she was afraid that it actually was too late to be planting). She sat there fuming. She felt like arguing with him, but instead she decided to say four healing words: “You might be right.” The man walked on down the street, and she went on happily planting her garden.
She uses those four healing words a lot, and she says they work every time.
“A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.” Proverbs 15:1