Slow to Anger

Bible Reading: Proverbs 14:16-17, 29; 16:32; 19:11

“Ouch!” yelled Emmett. “You tripped me!” He held onto his skinned knee and rocked back and forth.

“I didn’t trip you,” said Dakota. “You weren’t watching where you were going, and you fell over my foot.”

Emmett’s face was red with anger. “You stuck it out on purpose.”

“I did not,” said Dakota. “It was your own fault!” He was angry too.

Emmett stood up, doubled his fists, and lunged toward his brother. Dakota moved aside quickly, but not before Emmett managed to give his arm a hard whack. Dakota struck back, and the fight was on!

Mr. Harmon, a neighbor, had been watching the boys from his yard. “Boys!” he called as he hurried over. He was just about to pull them apart when they heard loud growling and barking in the yard across the street. Dakota and Emmett stopped fighting and turned to look in the direction of the noise. Two dogs were snarling and snapping at each other.

“That little dog is gonna get hurt!” exclaimed Emmett, starting toward them. To his relief, the man who owned the dogs came out of the house and separated them. “It scares me when dogs fight,” Emmett said.

“Well, I don’t like to see boys fight either!” said Mr. Harmon. “You two were going after each other like those dogs.”

“He started it!” said Emmett.

“No, you did!” shouted Dakota.

“You each say the other one started it, but who ended it?” asked Mr. Harmon. The boys looked down at the grass. “Neither one of you did. Those dogs probably started fighting over a bone, and when neither of them would give up what it wanted, they went after each other. Fights between people often start that way too, and when no one is willing to listen or admit they were wrong, someone gets hurt. The Bible tells us that a quick-tempered person will do foolish things but that self-control shows others the love of Jesus.” Mr. Harmon looked at the boys. “So…how about talking things out instead of using your fists?”

Emmett and Dakota looked at each other and nodded—even though each still felt sure he had a good reason to be angry. – Wanda E. Brunstetter

How About You?

Do you often lose your temper? The Bible says that’s a foolish thing to do, and it goes against the way Jesus wants us to treat people. The next time you get angry and feel like punching somebody, stop! Show God’s love to that person by exercising self-control and working things out peacefully instead of fighting about them.

Today’s Key Verse:
James 1:19 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (NIV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Be calm and work things out