Don't Wanna be a Hot Head

By Belinda

"Cool headednes, self possession and restraint." I pondered these qualities, mentioned in a devotional book I was reading, with longing.

I realized that if they were the benchmark to shoot for, I had recently failed yet again. Another person had clearly done something wrong and I corrected them, but I was ashamed that I had done it out of  barely contained hot-headedness and anger that simmered not far beneath the surface of my words.

I found myself doing another "What if?" exercise. Here's what I came up with:
  1. What if next time I waited before responding; allowing time to calm down before saying a word?
  2. What if I listened, seeking to understand the one who had offended me?
  3. What if I asked myself whether I am the best person to respond? Am I jumping too quickly before thinking things through sufficiently?
  4. What if, having heard the situation or concerns that prompted the words or action that offended me; I made my focus addressing the concerns rather than defending myself or others.
  5. What if I paused to pray before doing a thing?
If I did, I think that God might actually have a chance of growing the fruit of self control in me, and demonstrating another aspect of  his image in this jar of very earthy clay.
2 Timothy 1:7 (New International Version)
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

Galatians 5:22-23 (New International Version)
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Comments

Deidra said…
Great questions for any situation where we find ourselves jumping the gun. The fact that you've asked them (and shared them here) is, I believe, a sign of sensitivity...which is a step toward growth.
8:37 AM
Belinda said…
Deidra, Hope springs eternal. :) Thank you for your encouragement.
9:57 AM
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