Was I Different?

Ahemm. 
The day started out very good.  Eph. 4:29 was ringing in my heart as I started out the morning.  I had occasion to snap at my children and chose to explain something rather than tell them not to do what they were doing. 
I had a heart to heart with my oldest about choosing kindness and what the tone of our voice does and says to others.
Then,
the phone rang.  It was that person.  The person who talks about others, the weather, politics, the problem with this or that.  I put off the jabs and graciously declined to follow the pattern of the conversation.  We hung up.
Two hours later the phone rang. 
Same person, same scenario.
A couple of hours later, again the phone.  Again, sour conversation, this person wanted to let me know something they thought I was doing wrong.
I tried to get off the phone two or three times..You know, the "well I gotta go.." spiel. 
Person, "oh just one more thing."
Biting my tongue, holding back, I now feel icky, and then I do it; I say something unedifying, ungracious, unfaithful. 
As, I hung up the plastic little demon I realized what a true battle I was in.  What we all are in. 
Today I am going to try again. 
I am trying again because I liked that my focus was on Christ most of the day.  I thought of others before I spoke.  My husband needed me to be in a good mood when he got home from a long day at work, and I was.
My children were receptive and happy.
To help, I think I will write down that verse on a 3x5 and look up an encouraging verse, write it, and then meditate on both throughout the day. 

Just so you know, we also lost the bidding war on a home we were trying to buy.  Oh-well, something just right is around the corner.