"T" is for TEMPER!

My puppy was in serious danger of snapping my last high-strung nerve. The serenity of my peaceful afternoon in the back yard was shattered by Lucy’s shrill ark-ark-ark-ark at the family trying to enjoy their stroll through the neighborhood.

Heat was rising in face and steam was about to burst out of my ears. "No," "Stop it," Hush" and "LUCY!" have only added to the cacophony so I've (almost) stopped hollering at her.

So I sat, silently fuming, and not enjoying my fall evening any more than the strolling family.

It occurred to me I had the perfect T word to write about for Patty Wysong's "a2z 4u and me" meme this week -- TEMPER. But it would only be a complaining rant so I put the thought aside, counted to 10, and went back to reading my email.

The next message was my "verse of the day" devotion, based on this scripture:

That is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. - 1 Corinthians 6:11 -

There was a time, not too long ago, ok, to be honest, probably yesterday, that my temper controlled me. When something or someone sets me off…well, I’ll just say that my husband has a saying: “You don’t want to face the wrath of Cathy.” And, unfortunately, it doesn't take much to set me off some days.

But Paul’s words to the Corinthians reminded me -- that's what I USED to be. Now, with the Spirit of God living in me, I now have the choice to control my temper. I can swat it away like an annoying gnat.

Lucy

As I meditated on this verse and its promise, my anger melted away, I smiled, and I got up to cuddle  my excitable, adorable puppy and put her inside. I pray that, the next time my temper threatens to get the best of me, I will remember how easy it was to rise above it when I stood on the Rock.

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:7 -

 If you're joining us for the a 2 z 4 u & me meme by posting on your blog this week about the letter T, be sure to add your name and the link to that particular post in the linky gadget at Patty Wysong's blog, Ordinary Lives.
Catrina Bradley
"God rewrote the text of my life when I opened the book of my heart to his eyes." Psalm 18:24 (Msg)