Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Feeding the Flesh

I did some major housecleaning yesterday. I vacuumed and put carpet cleaner down and vacuumed again. I mopped the floor, but ran out of one floor cleaner and had to switch to another one. The second floor cleaner was called Fabuloso – isn’t that a great name – I think I will use it all the time. All the while, I was doing laundry and of course the dishes. By the time Toby came home, I think I had lost a few brain cells from all the chemical smells. He took me out to eat at the Chuckwagon to get me out of the house and reward my good behavior. Fabuloso!

Speaking of good behavior:
One of the things about being a Christian is that you are to put off your old, bad ways and put on God’s good ways. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Anger is one of those old bad ways that should be put off. Of course, everyone gets angry now and then, but it is how you react in your anger that is important. Last night, I became angry and wanted to take someone apart verbally (physically would have been good too). From my past life, I know I could do it – Let them have it, dot their eyes, put them down, throw down, etc, but I had a real check in my spirit that giving in to anger was not okay. Sure people do it all the time using the old "it is better to let it out than keep it in" as an excuse. That is your flesh talking. It does feel good to let it all out, but at what expense? No, controlling your mouth, your mind, and your physical actions is the better way, but it is not the easy way.

I’m really pretty easy going, but when I get mad it can be major. For the most part, I don’t get mad very often so anger is easily dealt with. Then out of the blue something happens and I snap. At this point I have a couple of choices – I can blast someone or I can get control. It is usually best for me to remain quiet. That does not mean my mind is not racing. That is the battle – dealing with all that goes through my mind – taking my thoughts captive. This can often be a long process for me. My prayer is that the process gets shorter.

Controlling anger is the better way even if it does not feel good at the time. Throwing a hissy fit seems good at the time and may feel great to my flesh, but in the long run it is not. Hurting someone’s feelings or letting them see the out-of-control-state-of-being is not easily forgotten or forgiven. Words are a powerful weapon. Giving in to Anger is kind of like those French fries at the Chuckwagon last night – I knew they were not on my diet and that I did not need to eat them, but I also knew they would taste so good. I ate them, and I felt bloated and fat the rest of the evening.

Fortunately, I did win the battle over my anger. I’m not saying that I’m going to let what caused my anger slide. No, I will deal with that little problem later, but at least I will do it with control, and it will be peaceful.

11 comments:

Towanda said...

Lou - Thank you for some words I needed to hear right at this very time.
~Sharon

GUYK said...

don't get mad..get even!

Bag Blog said...

guyk, that is the way of the world :)

mornin'lady said...

Now it's my turn, YOU GO GIRL!
Thanks for the encouragement in the right thing, blessings always flow from that!!

Buck said...

I did some major housecleaning yesterday.

I'll kindly thank you to get your finger OFF my guilt button, if you please.

"Major housecleaning" has been on the to-do list for about... oh, let's say a couple of years and leave it at that. Regular cleaning still gets done, but the once-a-year (or twice) stuff hasn't been done in ages. Right now I'm at the point where I tell visitors "don't look down" when they come in the door...

Anger. Rarely happens to me any longer... which is more of a function of my oh-so-limited social life, as opposed to any sort of personality change/improvement. Actually, I've always been a laid-back sorta guy. On the surface. ;-)

Course of Perfection said...

I just wanted everyone to know this. At work, I was writing a comment on Lou's blog. It was kinda lengthy. I was about 1/2-way through it when, guess who is standing behind me.

Lou is watching, she knows where you are.

Anyway, she saved me from typing the rest & I gave it to her first hand.

Bag Blog said...

Towanda and Dawn, If I was an encouragement, then that is good. I actually wrote another post and started to put it up so that maybe people would not read my anger post. Most people don't want to hear about such stuff. Your comments were an encouragement to me.

Buck, "Bwahaha!" said the wicked witch of the Okies, who likes to push those buttons. I did all of that major cleaning and forgot to do some of the more simple things like make the bed. I could come into your RV and not even notice anything amiss.

Becky G said...

Wonderful post, Lou. Anger has always been the thorn in my flesh, too. I hate losing my temper. I always feel so dirty afterwards. Retaining my self control is something I've been working on for a long time, but I still have a ways to go. Thank you for letting me know that I am not alone in my struggle.

The Friendly Neighborhood Piper said...

Let the waves roar and foam...continue to walk above it and all in it.

Sea-gal said...

I'm like you in that I'm pretty easy going until I get riled. Then I have to CHOOSE not to let my anger rule me. I can be angry and not act on it. I'm proud of you for choosing life! It is much better to deal with problems in control!

Knit and fall back in it said...

I've figured out that my life is much easier when I don't speak out in anger. Unfortunately that doesn't always stop me.