Anger & Righteousness
The morning went as smooth as it could… for a family full of night owls, that is.
Right up until the last minute.
It was time to get her dressed for PDO. The very thing that is a struggle almost every single day.
And today was no different.
We went to the closet together, and I showed her a dozen appropriate options. She wouldn’t have any of them.
“You can choose what you’d like to wear. It’s going to be hot today, so let’s find something that’ll keep you comfy and cool.”
Not the Halloween costume. Or the fleece footie jammies. Not the bathing suit, or the winter outfit that is too small.
With a closet full of clothes, she finally made a decision and I thought we were out of woods.
Until she had to choose a pair of shoes.
I tried to reason. Tried to converse. Attempted to be of help. Nothing I was doing was working. The only solution to avoiding the drama was to let her wear her fuzzy winter house shoes with her oversized Aurora dress. The one with a syrup stain down the front. Had we been staying home all day, I wouldn’t have cared. But today was a school day, and she needed to be appropriately dressed.
Wailing ensued, and I was done with struggle.
Between the thrashing and kicking, and enduring the barrage of her toddler insults and rage, my cool, calm, collected self completely disappeared.
I know, I know. I was the adult in the room. The mom. But parents have feelings, despite what their children believe. And I had allowed mine to become frazzled and fried.
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires.” (James 1:19-20)
But a releasing of anger feels so good… in the moment.
So justifiably right, too.
Yet isn’t that how all sin works? Why it’s so enticing and why we give in so very quickly?
Because, for a fleeting moment, it satisfies our flesh.
Trust me. I get it. More than I’d like to admit.
And, as you’ve probably noticed, anger is running rampant in our society. It’s celebrated. It’s encouraged. It’s Tweeted and shared and re-shared in the great attempts to stoke a raging fire.
But human anger does not, and will not ever, produce righteousness.
And if Godly righteousness is your concern, then giving into anger isn’t going to bring about the results you desire.
For me, it usually comes in the form of tears. And regret. And necessary repentance and apologies for forgiveness.
Not because I necessarily want to. Oh friend, believe me when I say, I put up a hard fight against my flesh daily to not do the things I want to.
Why, you ask?
Because greater than the temporary satisfaction of the flesh, I desire to display the righteousness of Christ. But without His help, it’s absolutely impossible to do.
We had a hard morning. The both of us. But a hard moment doesn’t have to ruin the whole day. There is grace and mercy to cover our shortcomings.
And love. Deep, deep love.
The very kind that covers a multitude of sins. (1 Peter 4:8)
