I am capable of quite an ugly temper. Let us just say I come by it naturally, the Hatfield and McCoy feud being a part of my family history.Oh, I'm a scrapper. I don't have a problem throwing down. I control it only through conviction of spirit and force of will. My instinct of fight or flight is missing the flight gene.
Well right now, I'm angry. Boiling, fist-clenched, bring-it-on angry. The why isn't important. I pulled myself up just short of really tearing someone up today. I knew that when I hear myself say, "Let me tell you something..."; the other person was in for it. That other person did indeed "get it" and here I am, still mad.
The problem is that anger is like a rabid dog. It doesn't just go away. It waits for the next victim. I know about my temper and so I try to be very careful and prayerful about expressing my anger in ways that God approves of. I don't think I went over the line today, but man it took a lot of jaw clenching to control it.
Now it's time to decompress and let it roll off. It doesn't come easily to me. I gotta talk to God about it so it doesn't steal any more of my day.
I have to be aware that even though it is how I am, it isn't how I am intended to be. There are parts of me that were born in the fall. This temper is part of the fall-out. I need to be strong and assertive. I don't need to be angry.
It's up to me to stop my own fall by letting Jesus have the fallen parts of me. If I wait much longer, I'm going to have to repent for holding on to anger. I'm gonna just give it to God right now.
I am redemption in progress.
James 1:19-21 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
9 comments:
It scares the crap out of me how much we are alike. Giirrrlll, I can throw down. One of my favorite sayings is "I can be your best friend or your worst enemy, I'll let you chose" (meaning by how you treat me). I have (literally) gotten so angry, I have made grown men weep. Yes, now, those were the days far before I walked with Christ, but that doesn't mean that I can be walked over. If, in any way, someone that I love is threatened, they better know Jesus, because if they don't, they are going to wish they did.
so... after all that rambling... I gotta work on it too.
I just noticed that the picture in this post as well as in your last post are basically the same - hands upraised....hmmmmm.
dear pat,
i noticed that too...since it was intentional! don't make me mad!
If we'd all 'fess up, we'd see just how much in common we all have. Folks tell my Fred that he has such a 'sweet wife' and his reply is "you don't live with her, don't let her fool you". I am not as bad I used to be (I could tell ya stories you wouldn't believe..well, maybe some of you would) ... but I am not where I should be. We need to learn that all anger in itself isn't a bad thing, it's how we handle it that trips us up. I have tripped so much I have skinned knees and scars to prove it.
Remember...Peter, a chosen disciple, was a hot-head too. I don't know that any of US have drawn the sword...yet.
Better watch it Pat ... sara's calling you by your first name.
I'm not afraid of you (being I'm a long, long ways away ... and once you said I was part of the posse ;)
It takes a might much to bring me to a boil ... and I do melt on occasions
so I'll be nice to you, sara, dear sister in Christ, that wouldn't hurt a flea. Just calm down.
WWPD (what would Pollyanna do?)
Dear Sara
Ha!
Don't call me Pat.
I have noticed that I have been filled with much more anger of late. I'm not sure why. But it frustrates the heck out of me. I grew up in a home where people rarely raised their voices. In fact, the first time Brillo Man and I had a fight and he YELLED -- my first thought was "oh no! we're headed for divorce and we haven't even been married a week!" Since then, he's taught me that's it's okay to be angry --it's just what we do with it that's the tricky part. Good post Miss Sara.
dont get angry, my friend. it uses up the precious little emotion we still possess. emotion that is better used for fun things like laughing at all the people who are less cool than we are.
Breathe...and breathe and breathe some more...breathe Him in ..breathe "it" out...sometimes it takes a bit of time but it will help. I think anger often comes from lack of control over a situation....He never lacks control we just have to relax and let Him be the one in charge. I know...easier said than done...sigh..
remember...breathe..
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