Many months ago, I had cause to visit my bank to rectify some technical issues regarding my account.
My investigative and observation antennas were turned on to so many things happening around as I awaited my turn on the relatively long queue.
Among all the happenings, the most striking one that caught my attention was how the customer service personnel were responding calmly with a top notch emotional intelligence to some of the persons that were so aggressive in their actions and utterances to them.
It was amazing how they were calm with their responses to the rather annoying reactions as far as I was concerned.
I made up my mind to act being annoyed too and to lash any of the agents that would attend to me.
I wanted to test run with their emotional intelligence and later begin a short conversation by asking questions.
So I did but I was not disappointed.
The one that attended to me was even apologizing to me.
At that point, I appreciated and told her how their intelligent responses were impressive to me.
Then, I asked:
Are you married? “Yes”, she said.
“I hope this is how calm and emotionally intelligent you are at home when things happen”.
She honestly responded that she was not like that at home.
She confessed being guilty of not accepting lesser annoying quirks from her husband without reacting compared to more annoying stuff she had learned to accept from customers.
Aren’t some of us guilty too?
A woman spoke to you somehow harsh but there was no problem because she is your boss.
Your pastor may get away with what your husband can never get away with.
How come you can be patient with your boss, customers, Pastor or Imam but not with your spouse?
Hence, I believe it is not for lack of ability to be patient with our spouses but for lack of what should I call it? Regard, honor, self-control or understanding?
Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft word turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
May your understanding be fruitful.
To your marital peace and bliss.
