A Soft Word Turneth Away Wrath

Yesterday I was walking with the kids to pick up Sydney from summer school. We do this everyday. Todd always rides his scooter, and often times gets a few houses ahead of me. This was the case yesterday when he rode passed a driveway with a car running and it's reverse lights on. I made him stop and explained to him how dangerous that is...I told him we always have to stop and check before we go behind a running car. I showed him by stopping and when the car remained parked in the driveway we proceeded, it was just about when I was directly behind the car with the two babies in the stroller that this car begins to back up and nearly hit us. Todd was up ahead and the others were behind me out of the way. I moved out of the way and the car proceeded to back up out of the driveway. I was ticked! I gathered my kids together with me and we kept on our way. Part of me knew that it was most likely an honest mistake..the other half of me was angry/scared that his carelessness could have seriously hurt or killed someone. I never could see the drivers face, but I had often passed that home and said, "Good morning, or Good afternoon" to the older woman in the front yard.
As we continued the walk down the street I could feel that car creeping up along side of me . I thought to myself if that guy says anything rude to me, he's going to get a piece of my mind... a big scary piece...he will definitely regret pulling out of his driveway without looking. Being slightly ticked very quickly turned into being really ticked with my defenses up ready for a show down with a rude irresponsible driver.
I finally looked over when I knew I could no longer ignore that he was there. As I looked I found the face of an adorable older man smiling at me. I softened...then he spoke. You have a beautiful family, he said. Then I melted...I replied, Oh, Thank you, that is so kind of you to say. He said, I just wanted you to know that you are doing a good work. By then I just wanted to hug him. I ended our conversation with, Thank you so much. And have a good day.
As he drove away Tyler said, Mom, I think that was his way of saying I'm sorry. Yes, Tyler I think your right. And what a very nice way it was. His soft words very quickly put out a flame that very easily could have become a blazing inferno.
Old people are wise. I'm grateful that man just about ran me over...for he taught me a valuable lesson...Soft words really are better than harsh words any day.