“Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. ”
My Dearest MacKynzie,
2020 was supposed to be a great year for us. Along with most of the country, we went into it dreaming about the lavish lifestyle the year would bring. Living the American dream, I transitioned from a full time job to spending my days running a local business. This was a big step for our family.
Here we are, eight months into the year and month by month, the dream has been taken over by dark clouds. Everywhere we turn there is anger and fear. Riots and intense debates about masks flood our social media and dominate our conversations. Family and friends are turning on each other in anger and frustration.
There are a lot of people in our country that are acting like fools and it saddens me. Businesses and individuals are being slandered and bullied. My partner and I were called racist from a post that was taken way out of context. Angry messages filled our inbox with some of the most hateful words I have ever heard. People were quick to jump on a narrative and lash out before they knew the facts. The worst part was that they didn't even care about the facts. Their only desire was to to push their own agenda no matter what it takes or who they hurt, and to do it out of anger….this is foolish!
I felt an array of emotions during this time. Fear because I was scared my business would go under. Anger because none of this was fair. Sad to discover first hand how nasty people can actually be to one another and feel justified.
My first reaction was to lash out in defense. With every mean comment my face got hotter and my heart beat faster. It is easy to let this emotion spin out of control. Instead of reacting immediately, I looked for wise counsel. Usually in life what is good for you is the hardest choice. Sitting on your booty and watching Netflix is much easier than exercise, pizza for dinner every night would be a lot better than chicken and vegetables, the list goes on. Reacting out of anger is easy, reacting out of a place of calm and composed is hard but I guarantee you it is much more effective.
First, I want to remind you that anger is not a sin, it is an emotion that God gave us. It is a powerful tool that helps motivate us to bring about monumental change. God’s goal is not our comfort, it is to build our character. It is how we respond in our anger that shows our true character.
The Bible mentions anger several times and gives us wisdom on how to handle our anger.
“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, bot only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ”
“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 that God desires. ”
“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.”
I believe that true change comes when we are intentional about recognizing our anger and redirecting our reaction to it. Just because things don’t happen like you plan, does’t give you permission to act like an idiot. Do not give the devil a foothold. Reacting in anger and rage does not produce the righteousness that God desires. It may make you feel better in the moment, but it will not produce the results you desire either.
My loving advice to you. Do not react to anger with anger. Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. Remember that fools give vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end. Instead take a breath, recognize your anger, compose yourself and be calm. There have been many people in history that have created change by reacting to their anger with composure. One of the greatest examples is Martin Luther King Jr and his followers. They were angry about the way blacks were treated so they calmly and peacefully protested, dressed in their Sunday best. That is to be admired and respected. The people trying to create change in our world today have it all backwards. They will not get the results that they desire because they are acting foolish.
This advice goes way beyond what we are facing in the world today and can be applied to almost any situation in your life where anger arises. Do not let it reside and consume you. It is in the quiet that we can hear Gods voice, not in the noise and chaos. Be intentional about how you respond when you are angry and remember to always love and forgive one another no matter what because that is the example that Jesus set for us.
My love to you and my prayer for an amazing life! Live to inspire <3 to create!
The purpose of this letter is to inspire my daughter MacKynzie to live a prosperous, God loving, joyful, legacy building life. Who knows, it may help you too. Please ‘like’ if you found this letter useful and please ‘share’ if you want to help inspire others. You never know who is watching ;)