Raise your hand if Trump has categorized your country as an ishhole.

Okay…now for the rest of you! Maybe your country wasn’t in Trump’s burn book, but raise your hand if you’ve ever been insulted. Yeah, I see you. And you. And you. All of us have been insulted. We’re humans dealing with other humans and aren’t immune to disrespect. Aaand, we don’t take it too kindly now, do we?

Nope.

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Undoubtedly, Trump was equally met with resounding clapbacks. Some done in good taste. I saw tons of Africans showcasing the homeland and as a Haitian-American, my feed was full of Haitians (including myself) adamantly showing their pride and resilience of our people.

So, yes some responses were done in good taste. Others? Not so much. People are angry and though I’m at a point where I’m not surprised by anything Trump says, I totally get it. However, responding to insult (or anything) with remorseless and unadulterated hate is something I wanted to address.

It solves nothing. No-thing. Nada. Handling insults with class – whether they’re coming from your president, your classmate or your coworker – is a feat. But, not so much that we should allow one’s words to win over us time and time again. It baffles me when believers compromise faith and stoop down to one’s low in order to defend themselves. We have to do better, ya’ll! You’re not just making us all look bad, you’re further turning people away from God. That’s not at all what we were taught in the Word.

Live in The Light and walk in the way of Love (Ephesians 5:1-2). Do good even in your suffering the same way Christ suffered for you (1 Peter 2:21). Practice being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19) because everything you say or do should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus (Colossians 3:17).

Yes, I know turning the other cheek isn’t at all appealing and getting the last word can be so much more gratifying. But it only appeases your flesh…not your spirit.

Handling insults with class isn’t easy but here are three practical things you’ll hopefully think of next time someone comes at you crazy!

1. Silence

Reclaim your time, sis. Not everything deserves a response. Not everyone deserves a response.

You are far too precious to be engaging in dialogue that infuriates you beyond relief. Who’s to say the offender will ever understand your point anyway? In keeping quiet, you’ve effortlessly taken the offender’s power and illustrate how protective you are of your own voice, mind and time.

Shut them up through silence. They’ll soon find that they’re merely talking to themselves.

2. Consider their ignorance.

No, really. I’m not saying this in a condescending or ableist fashion. In your pause, just think. Look at the offender (or don’t), maybe you’ll cock your head in doing so and think: “is that how you really feel, bro?”

Recognize the root of the issue. More often than not, the offender operates in a place of false sense of self, lack of knowledge, spirit of hatefulness and even fear. And more often than not, they don’t want to be corrected or shown differently. In having total understanding of who you are, you do not have to allow insults to invade your space. You’re solid.

Never allow disrespect to rain on your parade. Let your soul shine.

3. Be assertive in educating the offender.

Process the insult. It may sting, yes. It was unwarranted, yes. And you truly didn’t deserve it, yes. But it was said. It was done. Take what was said and leave it there.

Refuse to accept the insult. When they say talk is cheap, it was not for naught. You can respond “no I’m not” to the insult but it’s more effective to show it. Don’t go spend your life trying to prove people wrong – that’s not living. But do go out there and show yourself and those who want and choose to see, something beautiful. Take it upon yourself to educate the offender, those like him and yes, even yourself.

How do you deal when someone disrespects you?