Kwame and Kendra lived in a small village in Africa where they had been married for ten years.

Unfortunately, during the course of their marriage Kendra was unable to become pregnant. So Kwame went to the village elder and asked for a divorce.

The village elder said, ‘You were married ten years ago with great celebration and you will split up the same way!’ So the elder hosted a big party where there was much singing, dancing, and drinking.

During the party Kendra gave Kwame more than his share of drink, and at one point he turned to her and said, “Kendra, when you leave, you have my permission to remove the thing you love most from our home and take it back with you to your parents home.”

A few hours later when Kwame had passed out in his bed, Kendra asked some of the village men to carry Kwame and his bed to her parent’s house, where Kwame awoke surprised and confused.

She turned to him and said, ‘I have taken with me what I love most - you.’ Soon afterward, Kendra became pregnant.

Chances are you and I have been offended, insulted, or slighted this week – just like Kendra. Maybe it was by a family member, co-worker, or politician.

Of course, our first reaction is to strike back, get even, or just plain cut and run. But Jesus asks us to go another way – and return offense, insult, and attacks upon our dignity, with love and kindness.

So let’s admit our first reaction is rarely our best reaction. Take a moment before sending that retaliatory email. Hold off on sending that flaming text message. And imagine for a moment what it would look like to tap into who you are at the core: a person who holds love in their hearts, a person who tries hard to live a life of love.

This is what Jesus asks us to do amidst our disagreements. How do we go about showing this love? How do we answer offense with kindness, knowing that the world cannot be saved any other way?