It seems pretty much impossible to go through life without ever being insulted, mistreated, disrespected, or snubbed. We are surrounded by imperfect people who do imperfect things—people who are sometimes unkind, occasionally bad-mannered, and frequently rude. So what can we do about it?
Someone once compared mean-spirited words and actions to a venomous snakebite. If you are bitten by a snake, you might feel so angry that you want to hunt the snake and kill it. But a wiser course would be to remove the venom from your system as soon as possible. Seeking revenge only gives the venom more time to do its damage.1
In a similar way, we can choose how we react to offenses or venom from others. In fact, it has been said that “to be offended is a choice we make; it is not a condition inflicted or imposed upon us by someone or something else.”2 And our choice can either help or hinder our healing.
Of course, there are things we should not just ignore—injustice, bigotry, and cruelty, to name a few. We can and must do our part to right such wrongs and stand for civility, truth, and righteousness. But in most of our day-to-day interactions, for the more minor infractions of life, the best approach is often to let the snake slither away. The ability to make such a choice is one of the greatest gifts God gives His children.
When we feel overlooked or unfairly treated, we can decide what response reflects the best of who we are. When someone is rude, we can choose not to react with rudeness. When someone is thoughtless, we can choose to be thoughtful. The key is not to give away our day, our mood, our self-respect, or our inner peace to others.
That can be a challenge in this sometimes heated world, but when we hold on to the best within us, the venom cannot find its way to our heart. In this way, our choices can make us free.
- Attributed to Brigham Young, in Marion D. Hanks, “Forgiveness: The Ultimate Form of Love,” Ensign, Jan. 1974, 21.
- David A. Bednar, “And Nothing Shall Offend Them,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2006, 90.
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April 19, 2020,
Broadcast Number 4,727
Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square
Orchestra at Temple Square
Conductors
Mack Wilberg
Ryan Murphy
Organist
Andrew Unsworth
Host
Lloyd Newell
Hymn of Praise
Mack Wilberg
I Will Follow God’s Plan
Vanja Y. Watkins; arr. Nathan Hofheins
Prelude on an English Folk Song
Andrew Unsworth
The Ground, from Sunrise Mass
Ola Gjeilo
Standing on the Promises
Russell K. Carter; arr. Ryan Murphy
May the Good Lord Bless and Keep You
Meredith Willson; arr. Mack Wilberg