Proverbs 17:27
“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.”
Proverbs 15:18
“A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.”
The other day I made an appointment at the bank to take care of some business. The banker was on the phone when I got there so we started late. This made me late to my next appointment, where I was meeting someone for the first time. After struggling to get through traffic, I made my appointment only to find out that the other people who were supposed to join me didn’t show up, and didn’t tell me they were not coming.
So with my “last nerve” exposed, I was ready to give someone a “verbal” beating. All I needed was the next person to step on my exposed nerve. I finally got home with a mindset almost daring anyone to say something to me. I didn’t care; I was ready to “stir up some strife”. I plopped down on the couch and replayed over and over again the events of the day that got me angry.
Finally my dog came up to me and put her head in my lap and waited to be petted. She looked at me, and it was if her eyes were saying, “Chill dude, it’s not that bad.” It took a dog to make me come to my senses. It took a dog to make me realize how close I was to stirring up strife in my home with people who had nothing to do with the events of the day. It took a dog to keep me from doing something foolish.
When we don’t control our words and temper, we set ourselves up for foolish behavior, that can not only hurt ourselves but others. Do you have your “last nerve” exposed? If so, why? Have you made a fool out of yourself and hurt others because of your harsh words and temper?
It shouldn’t take a dog to remind you of what Proverbs instructed 3000 years ago…exercise self control…have a cool spirit.