Go Home Healthy
The wealthy opponent of the Shaagas Aryeh sent his ill daughter to him as a last resort, and a gentle word from the Rav brought her home whole.
It is told that when the leaders of Metz were ready to appoint the Shaagas Aryeh as Rav, a wealthy merchant named Yehuda Charif refused to sign the letter of appointment. His reason was that the Rav had only served in Volozhin, a small town, and in the yeshiva of Minsk. How could that compare to the great community of Metz?
Some time later, Yehuda Charif's daughter lost her mind. The doctors had nothing to offer, and her family was in deep anguish. In desperation, he sent for a famous Baal Shem, a wonder-worker said to heal anyone. But when the man arrived in Metz, the Rav, who knew his kind, drove him out of the city. Yehuda Charif was furious.
With nowhere else to turn, and still bitter, he brought his daughter to the Rav himself. She sang and danced and made noise all day, and the Rav, who could not concentrate on his learning, spoke to her softly. "My daughter," he said, "why do you behave so strangely, and for how long? Go home healthy." And she went. By the time she reached her father's house, she was well in body and mind. She asked her father to find her a better dress.
Yehuda Charif came to the Rav and begged forgiveness. He asked to add his name to the letter of appointment, and from then on he was the Rav's close friend and supporter.
Source: Toldos Rabbeinu HaShaagas Aryeh, p. 97b
The Rav had every reason to be sharp with the man who opposed him and with the noise in his study. Instead he spoke softly, and the softness did what no force could. Today, when someone is difficult, whether a relative, a coworker or a child who is acting out, try a gentle sentence before a correcting one. Say it slowly and kindly, and mean it. Give them room to respond, and notice what changes.