How Can We Stay Emotionally Grounded and Not Engage in "War of Words"?

An elderly person I pray for and occasionally assist recently said some hurtful things to me. I chose not to respond at the time, but that night I fell asleep thinking about what I will say if she is rude to me again. I was angry as I drifted off to sleep. 

That night, I dreamed of taking care of the person. As I tended to this elderly individual, in a dream, a rattlesnake attempted to escape from a nearby bag. Observing the situation, I was trying to determine how to eliminate the venomous snake. In the dream, I prayed and tried various methods, ensuring I didn't get hurt. Eventually, I decided to grasp the snake with my bare hands and return it to the bag. When I asserted authority over the snake in the name of Jesus and seized it with my hands, someone arrived to assist me in managing the dangerous snake. 

Upon waking up, my anger dissipated. I recognized that my anger was less about the hurtful remarks made by the person and more about how she stirred up past wounds and anger. The individual who made the hurtful comments suffers from dementia, making any attempt to teach her unnecessary. She often acts like a small child and requires care similar to that of children. 

However, the issue of how to handle the inner struggle remained. How to deal with aroused anger? As I am asking the Holy Spirit to search my heart for any unresolved pain that I can deal with and receive healing, I am also being watchful. 

When grappling with anger, I find solace in James' wisdom: "Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double minded." - James 4:7-8

In these times of upheaval and impending emotional storms, we should be careful not to succumb to negative feelings or engage in verbal conflicts with those around us. Let us be aware that our words carry weight. Words can be a blessing or a curse. We can hurt or heal people with our words.

Let me pray for you:

Father, we are grateful that each day brings new grace from you. We ask for steadiness during life's storms. Grant us the grace to avoid verbal disputes and find stability in your son, Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen