Flying off the Handle
Refrain from anger and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. Psalm 37:8
Being a witness to a hammer head flying off the handle taught me how dangerous and painful an accident like that can actually be. Back on the farm, my grandfather usually took care of all the tools. He made sure everything was in good working order. Even as a child, I admired his attention to little details and often heard him say, “This doesn’t feel quite right.”
He was forever telling me not to mess with his tools and to ask before taking them. Sometimes I did and sometimes I didn’t. He knew when I had moved them even an inch or less. How? I will never know, but he did.
All that to say this, while we don’t use the same tools much anymore, we tend to fly off the emotional handle. It causes the same results, but let’s add embarrassment and afterward, it doesn’t feel quite right. Let me give you a real-life example from today.
I bought a slightly used car in July (with only 5200 miles); a sweet little car. During the last week I have been hearing clunks from the right front tire area. I let it go until this morning. I was stressed about Thanksgiving, working, fitting two piano lessons in and getting the laundry, cooking and cleaning done by Thursday morning. I was NOT hosting but these things were heavy on my mind.
On my way to work, I heard the clunk over and over but there didn’t seem to be any rhyme or reason; nothing consistent that I could put my finger on. My blood began to boil as I tried to figure out how to get Ford to fix it over a holiday weekend. How could I get a loaner? I didn’t know if my Ecosport was going to fall apart or breakdown. I fumed all the way to work.
For the sake of my 23-month-old charge, I had to get over it quickly. (He picks up easily on moods and social cues.) It was a busy morning and in between his breakfast, bath, a walk, his laundry and unloading the dishwasher, I was carefully planning my words and how my conversation with Ford was going to go down. Seldom do I ever get angry, but I certainly was this morning.
After getting out early and piling everything in the car, something told me to check the glove box. When I did, I found my old glasses in a plastic case. Mystery solved!
Now, about that embarrassing attitude…
Father God, I was a mess today and I ask Your forgiveness. I thank You for not letting me fly off the handle and embarrass You. AMEN.