Wisdom tells us in Proverbs 15:1: 'A gentle answer calms anger; a harsh response stirs it up.' Also, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, we are instructed: 'Always be joyful.
A man is quietly waiting for a taxi on the main avenue when suddenly he spots one. He stretches out his hand, gets in, and says to the driver,
-Please, take me to the airport.
"Of course," replies the driver, as they head down the main road toward the airport.
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a car zooms out of a side street without yielding and merges onto the main road right in front of the taxi. They nearly collide, but the taxi driver manages to brake just in time, avoiding a serious accident.
The driver of the other car, who committed the traffic violation, pokes his head out the window and starts shouting a barrage of horrible insults at the taxi driver. The taxi passenger, bewildered and shocked by the reaction, sees the taxi driver smiling and waving at the other driver with a friendly gesture.
The passenger is furious and confused, so he asks the taxi driver:
"What’s wrong with you? Why are you smiling and waving at that guy who almost caused us to crash? He could have sent us to the hospital!"
The taxi driver, calm and composed, replies:
"I call it the garbage truck law."
"I don’t understand, sir," the passenger responds.
"Look," the driver continues, "just as there are garbage trucks out there, there are many people in life who carry frustration, anger, and disappointment. As soon as their garbage starts piling up, they need to find a place to dump it. If you let them, they will surely unload their trash—frustrations, anger, and disappointments—onto you."
"So when someone tries to dump their garbage on me, I don’t take it personally. I just smile, wave, wish them well, and continue on my way.
You should do the same, and I guarantee it will make you feel better."
What a beautiful lesson this taxi driver teaches us, right? I believe we should think more often about what we allow others to dump on us—those people filled with garbage who just want to offload it onto us.
Too often, we collect that garbage and pass it on to others. We receive trash that we carry home, to work, or out on the street, and we become like a trash truck, passing it along.
So today, let’s promise ourselves that we won’t allow this anymore. Let’s see those garbage trucks as they come, trying to unload their frustrations, anger, and disappointments onto us.
Like that taxi driver suggests, let’s not take it personally. Instead, let's smile, wave, and wish them the best as we move forward.
You know what the word says about this? Proverbs 15:1 says, "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." That’s right in the manual. And in 1 Thessalonians 5:16, it says, "Rejoice always." Always! We should be joyful.
Let’s not allow ourselves to receive the garbage from others. But when we don’t accept it, we tend to respond harshly. No, let’s smile and respond kindly. That’s what it’s all about. Let’s do it, okay? Commit to it. I’ll try to do the same, and together we can have better days and be better in a society that needs it so much.
A hug, and may God bless you!
Interpretation and Application
This verse contrasts two ways of responding in conflict situations:
- The gentle answer:This implies a peaceful, calm, and considerate attitude. Responding softly does not mean weakness, but rather the wise use of words that de-escalate anger and promote reconciliation.This attitude reflects self-control, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
- The harsh word:Responding with harshness or aggression creates tension and can intensify anger. Words spoken in a cutting tone reflect a lack of patience and wisdom, leading to conflictual outcomes.
Practical Application
- Effective communication: Use gentle words to calm discussions or difficult situations. This principle is useful in family, work, and social relationships.
- Conflict resolution: Christians are called to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). This verse teaches that the way we speak can be key to resolving or exacerbating issues.
- Example of Christ: Jesus, even under pressure, used wise and gracious words gracious (Luke 4:22). His example guides believers to speak with compassion and truth.
This proverb reminds us that the power of words can bring peace or conflict, and it invites us to practice gentleness and wisdom in all conversations.
