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Anger

I get mad. I get angry. Sometimes I take it out on others. How many times have we all said: “You made me angry”? We put that blame of making us angry on others. If that wasn’t bad enough, then we go the next step, we take it out on others. One thing ticks us off then we lash out. We yell at someone else. And many times, and I hate to admit it, but we lash out at those who care for us the most. We give them the cold shoulder. We hurt their feelings. We attack them. We belittle them. Also unfortunate, we do this many times without realizing what we are doing. You may ask, why we do that. I’m not a religious or psychological expert, but I believe we do it because we know those who love us will come back to us. They will take what we dish out. They will be our rock. The ones who love us the most are the ones we lash out at. This makes no sense. But we do it.

Today I had an experience. Someone asked me how my day one. I wasn’t in a good mood. I was tired, sore, exhausted. Then the person said something and I made a joke (not a crass joke) and the person was not having it. It was a rude encounter but I let it go. Why? Because sometimes it’s the right thing to do. To understand where someone is coming from. To understand that you can shoulder that and move on.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” – Ephesians 4:29

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,” – James 1:19

The bible is clear. We shouldn’t lash out in anger. We should only let out of our mouths what with help build others up. We don’t always do that. Sometimes we speak in anger. Sometimes we say unwholesome things. Sometimes we try to build someone up but end up tearing them down as we don’t know what they need. We should be there to listen. Speak when someone needs us. Even slower to anger. In this world, it seems we are quick to anger, lightning fast to speak, and snail slow to listen. And when we listen, we need to listen to both what is said and unsaid.

I am far from perfect on this. I love to talk. I love to help people and be there. Like oxygen is to fire, people, are to my happiness. When others lash out it is hard. But, through my faith, through prayer, and through my friends, I am learning.

Are you willing to be quick to listen and slow to anger and speak? Are you willing to forgive those who lash out at you?

I am willing (with the help of God)