In my professional position I have to deal with the public. I always try to treat other people well, and try to do the same at home. Among my weaknesses, however, is a tendency to get irritated, especially with those who are closest to me.

I have to wear a dress shirt to work every day, and I've found that if I put some baby powder around my neck and wrists, it helps to keep the shirt collar and the inside of the cuffs clean. I didn't notice it, but some of the powder had been settling on top of the dresser. One morning my wife was watching me use the powder, and she said, "If you'd just be careful, there wouldn't be such a mess in here for me to clean up every day." What she said irritated me, and what I said in response really hurt her feelings. I left without trying to apologize.

As I drove to work, that morning's event and how my wife might react if I tried to talk to her kept flashing through my mind. I felt so distracted that I had to remind myself to concentrate on my driving.

That month, the Word of Life was "Repent, and believe in the Gospel" (Mk 1:15). The commentary included a comment that seemed to address what I was going through at that moment: "Some people might ... feel tempted to close themselves off from these words, and to get discouraged. But.... living just one word of the Gospel is enough to experience unexpected help, unique strength.... Because each word of the Gospel is a presence of God, communicating with it makes people free, it purifies, converts, brings comfort and joy, and gives wisdom."

I realized that I needed to repent, and knew exactly how I could do it. As soon as I parked the car I texted a message to my wife, that I was very sorry and I asked for her forgiveness.

D.C., Chicago