Grace for the Stranger on the Phone

I've never had so many rude people call on the phone as I have in the last three days. What is their problem? I mean...I might understand better if it were a dark gloomy cold day in February. But it is the most beautiful week we've had and I'm just doing my job like everybody else. It is strange to me how somebody I don't even know can get me so flustered. Why should I care? But still, I do. My gut inclination is to be rude back...to make them pay for their poor treatment of me (afterall, I'm very polite and cheerful on the phone). But I usually can bite the inclination back.

I'd like to say that I "hold back" because I have grace for these people. But that isn't the truth. The truth is, it is professionalism that holds me in my place. And for that, I am feeling quite guilty. I'm sure the neighbors and enemies I am commanded to love would include those insensitive strangers I talk to on the phone. God, I think I need that extra "portion" of You for this day.