They say once you say something you can’t take it back. Words are powerful. But, just because some idiotic comment comes flying out of my mouth doesn’t mean I should let them keep flowing. Joe and I have had many of those conversations where one stupid comment is made followed by another until we’re so concerned about winning that we’ve forgotten what even started it all. It takes one of us to own up to our stupidity and say, “I should not have responded that way. That was wrong. That comment was unfair and untrue.”

You can’t take words back, but you can apologize for them. You can ask for another chance to respond correctly. Pressing the reset button- offering grace and forgiveness- has helped Joe and me tremendously when we find ourselves being driven by pride and stubbornness.