Tuesday... Let's be smart.

Proverbs 12:16a (CEV) says, "Losing your temper is foolish." It really is. And it is so hard to take it back. That is not smart. There are always consequence when we lose our temper and they are usually not good. Think of the last time you lost your temper at home, at your kids, at your spouse, at your pets. at your life, at where you live, at where you work. There are always repercussions and they are not good.

The New Living Translation says, "A fool is quick-tempered." The Message says, "Fools have short fuses and explode all too quickly." The Amplified Bible says, "The [arrogant] fool's anger is quickly known [because he lacks self-control and common sense]." It just is not a good thing. is it?

But then the rest of this verse, this proverb (CEV) says, "ignoring an insult is smart." It really is. I have striven in dealing with people to give them a benefit of doubt. They didn't mean that, they must be having a bad day, they don't know what they are saying and they really aren't smart. If they were they wouldn't have said that.

I mean, insults are said to show how smart we are but in reality the opposite is true.

The NLT says, "But a wise person stays calm when insulted." The Message, "The prudent quietly shrug off insults." And the Amplified Bible says, "But a prudent man ignores an insult."

And then verse 18 (CEV) says, "Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal." And that is a smart thing to do. What if we strove to heal in our family and not always cutting down? Now that would be a great place to live, wouldn't it?

Look at this, verse 8 says, "Good sense is worthy of praise, but stupidity is a curse." The NLT, "A sensible person wins admiration, but a warped mind is despised."

So, if you are about to lose your temper, then spread your feet apart, lower your shoulders, take a deep breath and blow the anger out of your mouth.

Let's be smart, okay? Yes, yes! #todaysbeginning

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