Appreciation inspires him to get a grip on his emotions.
This stirs him to slay his own dragon within.

-Gladys Marie Clancy

Let me start off by saying, I love my husband! He is wonderful!

Yet the other day, as he was helping me with a computer glitch (a problem I could not fix alone), my wonderful husband became angry and impatient. As he spoke, an uncomfortable chill numbed my body.

I Had a Choice to Make─

Did I want to criticize and complain… and in effect, throw gasoline on the fire! Or was the relationship more important than the grievance?

I took a deep breath, counted to 10, then…

1. I chose to sincerely appreciate what he was doing for me. (NOTE: a man needs appreciation like he needs oxygen.)
   
   
2.  I chose to understand his reason for frustration- (a time crunch, and the stress of giving up other things he needed to be doing… which was causing the irritation and aggressive attitude)
   
3.  I chose to say,
   

I know you have so much to do today…
and I want you to know,
I really appreciate your helping me with this.

And guess what… his impatient, pushy tone of voice melted away into nothingness!

I mean it literally disappeared without confrontation! And he was ready to work for as long as it took, to do whatever needed to be done!

This was not manipulation─

It was simply giving love,
where love was needed most.

And this choice I made─

... inspired him to slay 

his own dragon within!