Proverbs 15:18
Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am reminded once again of Emily Litella, Gilda Radner’s character on “Saturday Night Live.” Litella was a little old lady who was hard of hearing. She appeared during the “Weekend Update” newscast with Chevy Chase and/or Jane Curtin. Emily Litella got things all mixed up and made a huge fuss over nothing. For instance, once there was a “news” report about a Supreme Court ruling on the death penalty, and she “heard” the reporter say “deaf” penalty. She went ballistic! Deaf people had enough problems already! In all of these spoofs, the “reporter” was finally able to get Litella to calm down, and the misunderstanding could be explained. Litella always replied, “Oh, that’s different! Never mind!”
We are all “Emily Litella” at one time or another. Whether we fail to listen carefully or to gather all the facts… or we fly off the handle in what we feel is a justified reaction…losing our temper can cause a lot of unnecessary trouble.
Do you remember the scripture verses in John 8 where a crowd gathered and tried to get Jesus to condemn an adulterous woman? Do you remember how Jesus quietly kept drawing in the dirt? With one sentence, He diffused the situation. He did not rant and rave. He didn’t stomp his feet and jump up and down. He did not yell and scream. Jesus merely said, “If any of you have never sinned, then go ahead and throw the first stone at her!” And then He began to write in the dirt again.
Some of us seem to be “wired” to fly off the handle. But we can change this. We can ask God to give us wisdom, patience, tolerance… and control. We can ask Him to help us count to ten, breathe deeply, or take time to pray… to do whatever is necessary to remain calm and avoid trouble. Arguments are almost never productive… and in most cases, they can cause real, lasting problems.
Let’s all work on controlling our temper and staying calm. With God’s help, We.Can.Do.This! Let’s ask Him to show us how to exercise self-control… and to give us the necessary tools to avoid conflict. We don’t want to find ourselves in a position where we have to admit, “that’s different”… much less utter, “Never mind!” Put your “Emily Litella” persona to rest and start emulating Jesus. Learn to draw in the dirt… and do your best to stay out of trouble!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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