Don’t Fly Off The Handle

A truly wise person uses few words; a person with understanding is even-tempered.

Proverbs 17:27

EVER SEE A FATHER GO OVERBOARD in disciplining his child in public? You know, the kind of discipline that tears down and doesn’t build up. Feeling embarrassed for the child and hot under the collar about the dad, you vow this will never be a part of your parenting style. Then your son lets a candy bar melt all over the backseat of the van and your daughter spills a drink over all your work on the kitchen table, and you find yourself needing to take a repentance bath after you chew them out.

You know that a man of understanding is supposed to keep a cool head during those times, and you’ve often considered yourself to be that kind of man, so you figure you should be able to restrain yourself from launching into an angry tirade. But you still may find yourself heading in that direction.

Remember that you were once a child too, and you required a lot of patience. Maybe you didn’t receive it from your dad, but you needed it anyway. Imagine that you are the child who is making you mad. How do you look now?

Walk outside and take a deep breath. It’s not the end of the world. Tell yourself, “I need to make good decisions right now so I don’t add to the problem.” A wise man is judicious with his words when disciplining his children. And a wise man seeks help from a pastor or counselor when he needs it.

BOTTOM LINE

Pray daily that God will mold you into the kind of man who doesn’t reflexively fly off the handle at his kids.

Moment of Strength: Colossians 3:8