You know, it was once said that ‘a man who takes offense when offense was intended is a fool, and a man who takes offense when no offense was intended is an even bigger fool.’ Well, that’s a pretty high standard, but what would our homes and society be like if we could only reach it?

Nearly two hundred years ago as a man on foot approached the city of Washington D.C., he was overtaken by a tall slender stranger on horseback. The stranger reined in and they began to talk. And the subject turned to politics. The man on foot lashed out viciously in a personal attack on the President of the United States, who was at that time Thomas Jefferson.

Well, after listening for a few minutes, the stranger on horseback asked if he knew the president personally.

“No,” said the man, “nor do I wish to.”

“But … you think it fair,” the horseman said, “to repeat such stories about a man whom you dare not face?”

“I will not shrink from meeting Mr. Jefferson,” the man retorted, “should he ever come my way.”

“Will you go to his house tomorrow at ten o’clock,” the stranger said, “and be introduced to him, if I promise to meet you [there] at that hour?”

The man thought a moment, and then replied, “Yes, I will.”
Whereupon, the horseman tipped his hat and politely excused himself riding away toward Washington.
The following day the man came as invited to the executive mansion, and was escorted by a servant to the office of President Jefferson. Stepping through the door, he found himself face to face with the stranger on horseback – President Thomas Jefferson. Well, you can imagine how he felt.
“I have called, Mr. Jefferson,” the man began, greatly embarrassed, “to apologize for having said to a stranger…”
“Hard things,” interrupted Jefferson, “of an imaginary being who is no relation of mine.”
Mr. Jefferson extended his hand and gave the man a warm good-natured smile, and invited him to stay for dinner, an invitation which was heartily accepted. The man became a fast friend and defender of Jefferson from thenceforth.