The Armor Of A Smile

Mrs. A. was angry. Her eyes snapped, her voice was shrill, and a red flag of

rage was flying upon each cheek. She expected opposition and anger at the

things she said, but her remarks were answered in a soft voice; her angry eyes

were met by smiling ones; and her attack was smothered in the softness of

courtesy, consideration, and compromise.

I feel sure Mrs. A had intended to create a disturbance, but she might as well

have tried to break a feather pillow by beating it as to have any effect with 

her angry voice and manner on the perfect kindness and good manners which

met her. She only made herself ridiculous, and in self-defense

 was obliged to change her attitude.

Since then I have been wondering if it always is so, if shafts of malice aimed 

in anger forever fall harmless against the armor of a mile, kind words, and

gentle manners. I believe they do. And I have gained a fuller understanding of

the words, "A soft answer turneth away wrath."

Until this incident, I found no more in the words than the idea that a soft

answer might cool the wrath of an aggressor, but I saw wrath turned away

as an arrow deflected from its mark and came to understand that a soft answer

and a courteous manner are an actual protection.

Nothing is ever gained by allowing anger to have sway. While under its

influence, we lose the ability to think clearly and lose the forceful power 

that is in calmness.

Anger is a destructive force; its purpose is to hurt and destroy, and being a

blind passion, it does its evil work, not only upon whatever arouses it, but also

upon the person who harbors it. Even physically it injures him, impeding the

action of the heart and circulation, affecting the respiration, and creating an

actual poison in the blood.  Persons with weak hearts have been known to

drop dead from it, and always there is a feeling of illness

 after indulging in a fit of temper. 

Anger is a destroying force.

What all the world needs is its opposite-

an uplifting power.

"Walking in mercy and forgiveness does not

make you a doormat. It makes you more like Jesus"

-Dan Mohler

"The Armor of a Smile"

By Laura Ingalls Wilder

From the book, "Little House In The Ozarks"

A Laura Ingalls Wilder Sampler

The Rediscovered Writings

Edited by Stephen W. Hines

(1991)

Guideposts Edition