Most of us are slow on the repartee.  Those of us who have that problem could benefit by storing in our minds appropriate responses to be offered when opportunities present themselves.

For instance, Nathan loved an off-beat definition of the word “paradox.”  In a high school English class the teacher was asking for definitions to words that she was throwing out to the students.  As she came to the word “paradox,” Nathan raised his hand.

“Two doctors!” he confidently responded.

The punny joke went right over the teacher’s head.  “No,” she said, and called on another student.  There were giggles all around, and Nathan was satisfied.  The opportunity he’d hoped for and waited for had presented itself, and he’d seized the moment.

Most of us have been in situations where we’ve been held captive by people who love the sound of their own voices.  I recall when a couple came to visit us in our home.  My bedtime came and went, and still they continued talking.  I’m sure that my eyes must have glazed over and even frequently closed despite my fight to keep them open.  The struggle to stay awake was extremely painful.  The couple didn’t seem to notice.  Not being a quick thinker, I could see only two options.  I must either abandon myself to a sound sleep, or must announce that it was time for them to go.  Both alternatives would be rude.  I finally simply stood up in the middle of their sentence and thanked them for coming.  They took the hint, and a minute later I was sound asleep in bed.

What I should have done, I learned much later, was that I should have turned to my wife and said, “Honey, we’ve got to quit listening, and let these poor people get to bed.”

Lyle Defrees was bishop of the Baker First Ward.  A high councilor had a habit of calling him at 11:30 at night.  Lyle is like me, going to bed early and rising early.  I think you’d call him a “morning person.”  The high councilor was obviously an “evening person,” and thought that if he was awake, everyone else would be, too.  In my own case, however, my mind shuts down at 9:00 p.m., and everyone knows not to call after that hour.

Lyle is like that.  Having been awakened out of a sound sleep by yet another 11:30 phone call, Lyle told the caller, “I’m awfully sorry, but my mind just doesn’t work at this hour.  I can’t think.  I’ll call you in the morning when I get up.”

True to his word, Lyle returned the man’s call—at 4:00 a.m.  That effectively fixed the problem.

I was very pleased with a comment I once read concerning scripture study.  I scored when I used it several weeks ago as a dozen of us were in a room awaiting our upcoming temple assignment.  Brother Roche was there intently reading his scriptures.  It was his first day back to our temple shift after having had a mild heart attack.  Brother Roche is a jovial person, and is normally light-hearted and full of jokes.  We’d never before seen him reading the scriptures.

Observing him, our shift coordinator said, “Brother Roche, you’re more serious and studious since your heart attack.”

I was passing by.  I put my hand on Brother Roche’s shoulder and said, “He’s cramming for the final,” and walked on.  The reaction was very satisfying.  People were still commenting the following week.