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Proverbs tells us that “A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult” (12:16).  Learning not to overreact is a challenge for many of us.  It certainly is for me.  Fran’s had some difficulty with her tendency to overreact, too, and it has caused her to get angry at her client and even her Dad.

Having recognized the error of her way, she has apologized to her Dad for—what else—overreacting with him, and she has come to understand that the comment which upset her so much was not as rude and unprofessional as she had made it out to be.

As she talks with her mom and dad about it this evening, she says, “I think some of it is just the difference between men and women, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?” her mom doesn’t quite get it.

“Well,” Fran answers, “we women tend to be more subtle and careful about the words we choose because we know how easily our feelings can be hurt.  I think men tend to simply state facts and let the chips fall where they may, so to speak.  Therefore, what Mr. LaFevre said about me not doing a complete job really hurt my feelings, but Dad, you saw it as a simple directive—something to be expected.  Tell the truth, would it have affected you the way it affected me?”

Her dad thinks about it a minute.  “Well, it sure makes us men sound terribly insensitive, but I have to admit, I couldn’t see why you were that upset over it.  I mean, it’s just a business decision; it goes with the territory.”

Fran starts to laugh.  “Isn’t it crazy how differently we see things,” she comments.  “His comment hurt my feelings so badly; I took it very personally, but you heard it as just a simple business decision.  God made us quite different, didn’t he?”

“Vive la difference!” her Dad says with a twinkle in his eyes.

Fran laughs.  “Don’t you think it would have been easier if he’d made us both think the same way?”

“Are you criticizing God’s design?”  her mom asks.  “I’m glad your dad is different from me.  It keeps us from being bored!  Besides, we need each other.”

“Yeah?” Fran asks, smiling at her parents.

“Yeah; your dad needs my perspective on things and I need his.  That way we have the best of both worlds,” her mom philosophizes.

“I agree with that,” Fran says.  “Well, it’s sure worked well for you two.  How many years now have you been married?

“Forty-two—but who’s counting,” her dad laughs.

Well, some good lessons learned.