Slow to Anger

Good sense makes one slow to anger,

and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 19:11

She sat in my living room across from me as we sipped tea and chatted about motherhood. She was a few years ahead of me on this parenting adventure, so I listened closely.

“I never thought of myself as an angry person,” she said. “Really, the only person who ever made me angry was my brother…and then I had kids.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t the only mom finding herself ready to scream, or cry, or just lock myself in the bathroom on a regular basis. How could such adorable, little babies turn into frustrating toddlers, disobedient children, testy tweens, and challenging teens? Anger can sometimes surprise us as parents. The people we love most seem to know exactly which buttons to push. Anger bubbles up making us say and do things we really don’t want to.

The challenge, as Proverbs tells us, is being slow to anger. It is an issue of time. I find myself rush, rush, rushing and even my words seem to rush out before I think, “Is this really the best way to deal with the situation?” My track record on this is not so hot. So how do we see change when the pattern is so deeply set and our best efforts seem so weak and inadequate?

My friend’s advice was, “Before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I needed to ask the Lord for help and guidance.”

She nailed it! Praying before a word or action happens in the morning, praying throughout the day, and praying in the moment helps us keep our words and actions pure. It is about inviting the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom, or “good sense” as we interact with all the people in our lives, family, friends, co-workers, classmates, even our enemies. Meditate on this Proverb today.

What area of your life needs this type of prayer? Where do you need to be slow to anger, or overlook an offense? Do you feel alone in your frustrations as I did? Don’t hesitate to seek out a mentor or a trusted friend!

Speaking to my own heart…and Singing His Grace,

Jess