Thursday, December 15

Controlling the Hulk

Read Ephesians 4



 Raise your hand if you are a control freak. Don’t be shy ladies. I never used to consider myself a control freak until I became a Mom. Now that I control menus and schedules for my family I consider myself a bonafide freak.




 Funny how my control freak status flies out the window when it comes to controlling my temper.




 I’m sure you’re dying for an example! My parents got my four year old a ridiculously large semi-truck with a trailer for Christmas last year. I was in his room trying to put away laundry when I walked into it and stubbed my toe. Apparently a toe stub is all it takes to turn me green and transform me into the Hulk. I dropped the laundry I was holding, glared at the toy, stomped on it, and broke it in half.




 Feeling somewhat satisfied I picked up the laundry, then looked up and saw my teary eyed four year old standing in the doorway. Whoops. Then I lied and said it was an accident. Don’t you dare judge me.




 “A quick tempered person does foolish things...” (Proverbs 14:17)




 There are those days that I’ve just had it with everything and everyone around me. I’ll snap at one of my boys or I’ll get irritated about something that wouldn’t normally bother me.




 How many times are you having a “heated” discussion with someone and the phone rings, you pick it up, and in your cheeriest voice say, “hello...” and proceed to have the phone conversation without a hint of frustration? That is you controlling your temper folks.




 We ARE capable of it! God gave us the ability to use kind words. He has given us the option to speak with a controlled tongue. He also instructs us to “get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger...” (Ephesians 4:31).




 When you are having one of those days, it makes it hard to look at your child’s little face and remember what a blessing they are. It’s so much easier to lash out and try to satisfy that angry Hulk inside of you. But the result is a teary eyed little four year old who tells his Sunday school teacher that you stomped on his truck.




 The option to reject a sour reaction is indeed a blessing. The victory is so sweet when we choose to have a good attitude! We are in control of how we respond to our children. Stepping barefoot on a barbie shoe, finding blue paint splattered on the carpet, noticing a half eaten banana under the couch, or a room that’s still not clean are not excuses to get mad.




 We let our minds manipulate us into thinking it’s ok. Choose to control it. Take a deep breath and whisper a prayer. Imagine if God turned into the Hulk each time we disobeyed Him. I can guarantee there would be some really BIG stomp imprints on everything I own! But He doesn’t work like that. He understands, He loves, and He trusts that we will work to improve.




 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths

but only what is helpful for building others up according 

to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” 

 (Ephesians 4:29)



By Ashley Kahl, at the Ugly Homemaker

2 comments:

jayne said...

We say that verse almost daily: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but rather what is pleasing the the Lord, that it may benefit the hearer in the moment--that's our version. :)

Anonymous said...

Thank you I really needed this! Katrina