Bible Verse Friday #30

"Stop being angry!  Turn from your rage!  Do not lose your temper--it only leads to harm".~Psalm 37:8

Do you ever have moments when you feel yourself being taken over by anger?
Maybe it's when you get cut off in traffic?
When someone makes a comment that infers you aren't a fit parent?
I'm sure there are lots of things that bring on that little fire of rage.

But do you know what's most important?
Not unleashing it.
Sometimes we need to take a time-out.
I have to remind myself that MAYBE just maybe that person who cut me off had some kind of emergency they needed to get to.
Maybe that person who is making snide comments never had caring parents to take care of them.

Whatever the reason may be...maybe it's best to just take a timeout.
Say a little prayer to yourself:
"Lord fill me with peace and love.  Help me to be a shining example at all times.  Calm my emotions"

I've been reading The One Year Uncommon Life Daily Challenge and this was the devotional the other day:

A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person's strength.
Proverbs 17:22

In his marvelous book The Soul of Baseball, Joe Posnanski chronicles a series of road trips with Buck O'Neil, the venerable Negro League player and first African American coach in the major leagues.  Buck took these trips when he was ninety-three.  Joe was fascinated by Buck's youthful resilience and more important, his positive outlook on life.

Here was a man who, despite great ability, had been thwarted time and again, on the field and off, by what Buck referred to as "my beautiful tan."  Relegated to playing in the Negro Leagues because of his skin color, Buck didn't let that and a lifetime of other slights prevent him from marveling at the small joys of life everyday.

Posnanski opens with a story of a game in Houston that he and Buck attended.  At the end of one inning, Houston's right fielder, Jason Lane, tossed a ball into the crowd, Presumably intended for a young boy in the stands.  Immediately, a man lunged in front of the boy snatching the ball.  The crowd booed, and Joe seethed.

Buck smiled and turned to Joe, telling him not to be too hard on the man.  "He might have a kid of his own at home."  Joe relaxed for a moment but wanted to stay irritated at the man.  After a moment, he turned back to Buck.  "Why didn't he bring the kid to the game?"

Buck smiled and said, "Maybe his child is sick."  Try as he might, Joe knew he would never get Buck to say a negative word.  Here was a man who refused to be a victim, to ever see life in any other way than as a gift, a marvelous occasion.  

Take it from Buck.  At every opportunity, be joyful and look at the bright side.

After reading that devotion I had to reflect and realize how guilty I am of thinking the worst more often than not.

I know I'd be booing with the crowd if I'd been there.

But I also know that I need to keep my attitude in check.

Sometimes I need a timeout.

I need to think better about others.

I need to learn to see them through God's eyes.

Do not let anger overwhelm you.

It leads to harm, both emotionally and physically.

High blood pressure, stress...these are all things we can avoid if we just let go of the anger.

I challenge you.

Each time you feel that ball of anger/irritation writhing up this week, try to think of the situation in a better light.

Try to be happy.

I hope you have a Blessed Friday!