Everybody’s Got Somethin’

Karen

Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

—Proverbs 19:11 ESV

My intense irritation at my husband’s actions didn’t show visibly. Since his mother was sitting behind us in the backseat of our car, I was careful to remain calm. However, I did sneak a darting glance toward him—a dagger that accurately conveyed how very much I hated what he’d just done.

His dire offense? Failure to use his blinker when changing lanes.

This particular day we were shuttling my mother-in-law to her doctor’s appointment. When we arrived and took our place in the waiting room, my mind began to tally, one by one, other irksome things I didn’t like about my man’s behavior.

As each scenario popped into my mind, I grew more and more annoyed.

Across from me sat a chatty elderly woman. She spoke of some people all in a tizzy about the impending inclement weather, declaring they needed to remember one important fact: “Everybody’s got somethin’.”

I asked her just what she meant by that. “Well,” she elaborated, “when we lived in Kansas, it was dust storms and tornadoes. Then the few years we lived in southern Florida, we had to prepare for hurricanes. And when we were stationed in California, oh, what a drought we had that one year. Like I say,” she restated, “everybody’s got somethin’.”

My waiting-room friend’s observation spiritually snapped me to attention that day. Why do I let certain aspects of my husband’s personality bother me so easily? Surely I do things that drive him equally crazy!

“Everybody’s got somethin’”—some behavior, quirk, practice, or habit that wreaks havoc on others, tempting them to become slightly irritated or even all-out furious.

Today’s key verse states that “good sense makes one slow to anger,” and that it is a person’s “glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11 ESV). In the original Hebrew language, the word glory conveys beauty, honor, splendor, and even adornment. Essentially, our patience in passing over an offense adorns us with true beauty and honors the other person.

Is there someone in your life who sometimes gets on your nerves or under your skin? How about trying a new approach—how about just keeping your cool? Don’t say a word. Smile instead, and love despite a person’s quirks.

Remember, everybody’s got something.

Father, may I learn not to let the little quirks or even the bigger missteps of my loved ones provoke me to instant anger. Teach me to overlook an offense as I remember how much You’ve forgiven me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Who sometimes bothers you with their behavior, and how can you overlook their offenses?