This verse reminded me when I began work as a support worker in Child Protection.  I was nineteen, new to the field, and I had made a mistake with a struggling mother on one of my first cases.  As is common with new workers, I crossed a boundary by being ‘too friendly’.  I accepted her friend request on Facebook and thought nothing of it.  After working several years in this field, I now see how foolish this is as many cases end up in court, and it gets messy when mothers see the worker as a friend rather than a professional. I just hadn’t understood this at the time.    

My boss called me into work that week, and as soon as I walked in, the tension was tangible as she instructed me to close the door.   My heart started to hum as I asked sat down and watched her face contort.  She raised her voice, asked how I could be so stupid, and berated me for crossing said boundary.  I let her finish fully and paused before I responded. I had a choice to make. I could respond back defensively in anger or apologize profusely (both oftentimes fuels wrath).  My go-to is the latter of the two, but I was surprised at what came out of my mouth next.  

I told her that she was right, and that I should have known better not to accept the request.  I then gently explained that while she had a point, I did not appreciate being belittled, and preferred that she communicate her concerns differently. I’ll never forget the look on her face. Would she fire me for confronting her method?  I was nineteen, and she was fifty-something.  She blinked at me for several moments before sitting back in her chair, bewildered.  Her tone shifted and I watched a level of respect form.  She apologized, explained why boundaries are important. I agreed, we laughed, and had a great working relationship for years afterwards.  Never again did she approach me wrathfully.  

A gentle answer turns away wrath, and wisdom gave me the strength to communicate this way which she reciprocated for the rest of my employment there.