Reading: Seventh Principle - Return Blessing Rather Than Insult

By Kristine Koetje-Balder
SEVENTH PRINCIPLE - RETURN BLESSING RATHER THAN INSULT

Insult-to-Insult Relationships
Husbands and wives can be extremely proficient at trading insults - about the way he looks, the way she cooks, the way he dresses, or the way she cleans house.

Return Blessing for Insult
1 Peter 3:10-11 states: "For the one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.  He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it.”
To give a blessing first means stepping aside or simply refusing to retaliate if your spouse gets angry. 
Changing your natural tendency to lash out, fight back, or tell your spouse off is not very easy. 

Return Blessing for Insult
Yielding to God's help and the power of the Holy Spirit is essential.
It also means doing good.  
This could be as simple as speaking kind and gentle words, a touch, a hug, or a pat on the shoulder.   
Being a blessing means seeking peace and actually pursuing it.