Have you ever had those moments when you just want to strike out at someone? I don’t mean physically really, but with the strongest weapon you have available to you – your Tongue.

Yesterday I was on a community forum for a product I use. It was the actual community supplied by the manufacturer of the product. I asked a very nooby question but I made sure to preface it with “I am new to XYZ Process (Today.)” I would think this would preclude those who simply don’t want to bother helping the new people from waiting their time reading the question or at least trying to answer. Not because they can’t – but because they know it will be simple for them but might be a pain to explain to someone without experience.

Then there are the groups you have been a part of for a while and you know people will do their best to help you, or groups you pay to be in because you know you need answers, not snide comments. These are the groups that Whenever you ask a question, even if it’s been asked multiple times, it gets responded to kindly, courteously, and if possible – fully. Even when the question comes from sheer ignorance.

Sometimes I feel the Lord is testing my grace, patience, temper, everything. The latest was a simple attitude test.

Yesterday I posted a question that started with “I am new to XYZ Process (Today.)” Now I would think that would preclude people who don’t care to waste their time with noobs from answering. However the answer was very simple and a perfect example of “You don’t know what you don’t know!”

As it turns out the answer I needed was a simple flip of a switch within the program I was using. However the answer didn’t come from the community, but from the software company support system. So I thought I would take a minute to thank those who responded in the community and let them know the answer I found. There was my original question, and one reply from each of two people, then my posted thank you and answer.

When it turned out the answer was a simple one, the final remark was simply “You might have mentioned that essential fact in your first post!”

I had various remarks pop into my head which were not rude but still unChristlike. Does that happen to you as well? Are you tempted to jab back with the insulting edge of your tongue? When this happens to me I sometimes end up writing out my response in full and in anger, then realizing my mistake and deleting the response before I even post it.

So instead of responding in that community this morning, I thought I might change tactics and say a great big thanks to you all here and in the other community group that helped me kindly and with love. It will surely have a better effect on my day 🙂

With this I offer you a challenge today. Every time someone makes you want to knee jerk in kind, or you find yourself writing a long scathing response, simply smother them or someone else in thanks and joy. Go and write a thank you to the others who have helped you along the way. Find a random community that you are a part of and have gotten help from, and give them an unsolicited thanks.

At the same time, pray. Pray for your attitude toward that person and others throughout the remainder of your day. Pray for that person.

Let that small change in your attitude effect your thinking for the day. You will feel better because of it.