Have you ever been really upset with someone or something, and the first thing from your mouth is “They better be glad I’m not who I used to be”?  I have. There have been several opportunities for me to show out, but instead, I chose to keep it together.

I was talking to a young gentleman the other day while getting my haircut. Apparently, some things were said in his family chat room that he didn’t like.  Some members in the family were trying to contact him but, he would just ignore the phone calls. It wasn’t long before the family member showed up and went completely nuts in front of everyone.

After things calmed down and the person left, the first thing out of his mouth was, “They better be glad I’m not who I used to be”. Instead of chiming in and helping him get even madder I said “You did great, without being who you used to be, you made God proud and that’s all that matters.  It’s not what he wanted to hear right then, but he calmed down and finished what he was doing.

I said that to say this. The things we used to do have no place after we have made a change. People are going to make you mad; situations are going to make you mad; but somehow you must dig deep and fight the feeling to revert to the old you. Don’t risk saying or doing something you will later regret.

It’s easy to cuss and fuss people out, but does it really do you any good? Of course, most people will say “I felt better afterwards”, but how long did it last?  It takes a lot and a long time for a person to change his or her behaviors, so five minutes of telling someone off is not worth starting all over again.

There is a scripture in the Bible that talks about changing our behavior—being a new man. (Eph 4:22-32) Please read it carefully for yourself. Nowhere does it say act up all you want to make yourself feel better😊. My intention my brothers is not to preach to anyone, but just to show how in the heat of the moment you can either lose your cool or be cool. It truly is a choice. Fight the feeling to be the old you and embrace the new you, that you and the Lord are building. (May God continue to bless you.  Your brother in Christ…TMK).