Bob slammed the front door as he came storming into the house. “I’m this close to quitting!”

“What happened this time?” Sheila cautiously asked.

“They make me so mad! I’m sick of it!”

Bob kicked a box sitting on the floor. “Today, I got in trouble for breaking a window when I accidentally shut my office door too hard. It just slipped. The next thing I know, someone from HR was in my face again.”

Sheila paused and took a deep breath.

Bob waited, ready for their normal shouting match to begin. “Aren’t you gonna say anything? Don’t you have one of your little sardonic comments you wanna pile on my already horrible day?”

“No, Bob. I love you, and I’m trying to practice what we learned in counseling a few weeks ago.”

“What? To ignore your husband?”

“No.” Sheila said softly. “The verse he shared with us from James 1:19: ‘Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.’ I’m tryin’ to listen.”

Bob inhaled with frustration but held his tongue.

Sheila smiled at his progress. “He said if we wanna stop screaming and cussin’, we’ve gotta slow down, acknowledge that we’re responsible for our own anger, and be willing to change. That’s all I’m tryin’ to do.”

~~~~~~~~~~

It’s easy to blame others for MY anger.

It’s easy to claim someone is “pushing MY buttons.”

Whether your goal is to not get fired, have civilized conversations with your significant other, or live the “righteous” life that God desires for you, your first step is YOU.