Have you voiced your emotions and instantly regretted them? Do you wish you could rewind those past two seconds to have a do-over?

Abigail was a woman of understanding and beauty. We read about her in 1 Samuel 25.

1 Samuel 25: 2-3 "A certain man in Maon, who had property there at Carmel, was very wealthy. He had a thousand goats and three thousand sheep, which he was shearing in Carmel. His name was Nabal, and his wife's name was Abigail. She was an intelligent and beautiful woman, but her husband was surly and mean in his dealings—he was a Calebite."

Abigail was a woman like us; she had both provisions and problems. She understood the pressure from a busy schedule and a demanding life. She was married to a man with a reputation for being mean and moody. Everyday she had to serve a man who brought her life problems rather than pleasure. Yet, she had a reputation as a woman of intelligence and beauty.

She found herself in a sticky situation (Read 1 Samuel 25:4-13).

David was yet again running from Saul. He was appointed king, but it was not until 15 years later when he would be anointed as King of Israel. David was camping around the sheep and cattle of Abigail's husband, Nabal.

Since David was running from Saul, and it was festival time, he knew Nabal would have a lot of food to feed him and his army. Yet, Nabal dismantles, rejects, and disrespects David by saying, "Who is this man David?" (Remember David had a long history of rejection. Even his dad said, "Oh yeah, I do have one more son").

So, now David is furious and wants to kill the whole clan, including Abigail. This is how she deals with this very sticky situation.

Here are three tips from Abigail's life to help us remain composed when our climates are more chaotic than calm:

1. Humility

Instead of getting angry at her situation, she approached David and his men with a humble heart. The scriptures say she bowed low before David and his men asking if she could speak to them about her husband's misconduct.

When we feel rejected or misunderstood, do we approach the conversation with a heart of humility?

1 Samuel 25: 23-24 "When Abigail saw David, she quickly got off her donkey and bowed down before David with her face to the ground. She fell at his feet and said: "Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say."

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2. Honesty

Abigail was honest in her speech. She did not try to hide, avoid or disassociate with her husband, Nabal. Instead, she told David that she did not know he had sent men to speak to her husband.

1 Samuel 25:25 "Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent."

3. Heroic

Abigail was able to persuade with very compelling words that God had graced David and that since he would not avenge in his anger, there would be no derails to his destiny.

1 Samuel 25:26 "And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal."

Today's reactions matter. Our words are either lifting others up or tearing them down.

When emotions tempt you to complain or act in arrogance, remember Abigail and how she could remain humble, honest, and heroic in her conversations. She was a woman who would understand how easy it is to be critical in her speech, but she still chose to control her actions and words.

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