A Better Way A Christlike Way

 This morning, as I listened to a news report from Capitol Hill, something unexpected caught my attention. A ranking member began to speak, and from the very first sentence, his voice carried a sharp edge. Not calm conviction. Not steady reasoning. Just what appeared to be his anger on the matter at hand.

For a moment, I found myself wondering why he felt his frustration had to be shared in such an angry way.  I questioned why he couldn’t share his message without all that intensity.

Then almost immediately, the Spirit brought something to my remembrance.

Just a few days earlier, I had made a phone call on behalf of Mom. I had followed every instruction the credit card company had given me, only to be told they had no record of anything I had done and that I would need to start all over again.

I felt the frustration rising. My tone tightened. My words grew sharper. There was no question that I was not happy.

Then, right in the middle of my irritation, I heard myself. And I didn’t like what I heard. So, I paused and I said to the man on the other end of the line, “I’m sorry. I know you’re not the one who caused this. I shouldn’t be speaking to you in this tone. Please forgive me.”

He responded with kindness and with patience.

I don’t want frustration to shape my voice. I don’t want stress or exhaustion to spill out onto people who are simply doing their best. I don’t want to echo the world’s anger. I want to follow the example of my Savior.

Jesus knew frustration. He faced opposition, injustice, and cruelty. He confronted hard things daily. But even in His anger, He was godly, measured, purposeful, loving. His anger never belittled, never demeaned. His wounded pride never took place of His love.

Proverbs 15:1 says: "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger"

The Lord isn’t simply teaching us how to speak. He is teaching us how to be.  How to be calm in the storm, gentle in frustration and kind even when we are right.

I am not there yet, But I am learning and I am trying.

So, when moments like these, whether on Capitol Hill or on a customer service call, I want to choose a better way, a Christlike way.

James 1:19–20 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:  For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.”

 or

James 1:19–20  “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”