It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. Proverbs 20:3 (NIV)
One of my favorite sayings is: “Don’t Poke The Bear”. In other words, don’t stir up strife, or antagonize people needlessly. But too often I am the grouchy bear that it is a bad idea to “poke”.
Endless illness, ongoing suffering and pain, the daily frustrations of living with a disease, these things keep us on the edge mentally and emotionally. Our feelings can be easily hurt or riled, our reactions can be out of context going well beyond what is reasonable regarding small or simple issues or problems.
I try to stay philosophical, to remember Christian teachings and ideas, but the emotions can be very difficult to tame and rein in. As they say, “recognizing that you have a problem is the first step”. It is hard to admit that on top of a list of illnesses and diseases we also have mental and emotional liabilities that can make a bad situation much worse. Trying to rein in these out of context emotions is like trying to ride an angry bull.
We need the Lord’s help to keep perspective and hold onto these runaway emotions that are often brought about, or antagonized by our illnesses. Remembering we are prone to emotional reactions that may be out of context can help us to reconsider our responses to those around us.
While it is not good to bottle up our emotions, neither is it good to give free rein to our emotional liabilities caused or magnified by illness. We should be wise enough to avoid “Poking the Bear”, and be aware that sometimes we are “the Bear”.
Ask God to send His peace and wisdom into your heart. Let Him help you to keep stock of your emotions and guide you in your reactions.
Dear Lord, sometimes our emotions get the better of us, give us wisdom and guidance to rein in our emotional frustrations. Amen.
One of my favorite sayings is: “Don’t Poke The Bear”. In other words, don’t stir up strife, or antagonize people needlessly. But too often I am the grouchy bear that it is a bad idea to “poke”.
Endless illness, ongoing suffering and pain, the daily frustrations of living with a disease, these things keep us on the edge mentally and emotionally. Our feelings can be easily hurt or riled, our reactions can be out of context going well beyond what is reasonable regarding small or simple issues or problems.
I try to stay philosophical, to remember Christian teachings and ideas, but the emotions can be very difficult to tame and rein in. As they say, “recognizing that you have a problem is the first step”. It is hard to admit that on top of a list of illnesses and diseases we also have mental and emotional liabilities that can make a bad situation much worse. Trying to rein in these out of context emotions is like trying to ride an angry bull.
We need the Lord’s help to keep perspective and hold onto these runaway emotions that are often brought about, or antagonized by our illnesses. Remembering we are prone to emotional reactions that may be out of context can help us to reconsider our responses to those around us.
While it is not good to bottle up our emotions, neither is it good to give free rein to our emotional liabilities caused or magnified by illness. We should be wise enough to avoid “Poking the Bear”, and be aware that sometimes we are “the Bear”.
Ask God to send His peace and wisdom into your heart. Let Him help you to keep stock of your emotions and guide you in your reactions.
Dear Lord, sometimes our emotions get the better of us, give us wisdom and guidance to rein in our emotional frustrations. Amen.
Karlton Douglas
Copyright 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please Leave Feedback Here.
Thanks!