Poetry Offense

So simple to take offense
Someone does or says something
That hurts,
That angers,
That leads to, often, unfounded assumptions
And thoughts of sounding off,
Of retaliation.

Yet the words or actions
were not always meant to offend,
Emotions raise the stakes
We complete the cycle only if we
Acknowledge it,
Hold and hang onto it,
Nourish it.

Instead,
Why assume offense was meant?
Temper initial, unthinking, inner response
Was it simply an awkward attempt at words or action,
Not vicious, just unwise?
Think it through
Deal with it,
Discover truth

If not meant to offend
Forgive and let it go.
Let it slither away,
Under the rocks where it belongs,
Not completing the cycle,
Refuse to be offended.

Offense seeks to snare, entrap us,
Yet it is only as deep,
As encompassing as we allow.
Why not refuse to close the cycle,
Refuse to rise to the bait?
Redirect
Replace with prayer,
Allowing God’s peace to calm.
Set free.

Offense?
I refuse to let it fence me in.
Ensnare me,
Entangle me.
What about you?
Next time, what will you do?
" Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."Romans 12:21 NKJV

(C) 2016, 2021 Carolyn R Scheidies
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