“Love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.”  I Corinthians 13:5

Love is not easily provoked into anger. 

This one’s a toughie for those with a short fuse or a temper.  It’s especially tough when dealing with someone close to you who knows exactly how to push the right buttons to fire you right up.  Interestingly enough anger here actually is a compound word in the Greek.  One word is alongside.  The other is to stir.  Picture someone purposely coming alongside of you and poking you with a sharp stick until you can’t take it anymore and blow up, that’s what the word means in the original Greek. 

Anger is a secondary emotion.  This means that it always starts as another feeling before it grows into anger.  Diffusing anger requires dealing with the source emotion.  When you do that, the anger dissipates.  What are the sources of anger?

Fear

Frustration

Hurt

Anger can also come from unforgiveness, but usually one of the above three are the culprit. 

When you feel anger beginning to build, take a deep breath.  Then ask yourself:  Am I hurt?  Am I afraid?  Am I frustrated?  Then deal work on dealing with the root of the anger.  Don’t allow yourself to be provoked into a verbal explosion or a physical fight.  If possible remove yourself from the situation or the person poking and prodding you, even if it’s just for a few minutes to calm down. 

This is the Jill translation of this verse:  Love bites one’s tongue and controls one’s temper.  Love does not explode into a verbal explosion of harsh words and obscenities.  Love doesn’t punch someone’s lights out because it is hurt, afraid or frustrated.

Jill will continue to work on this.  🙂 Happy Wednesday!

Bonus Scripture:  “Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared.” Proverbs 22:24-25