Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

She Flipped Me Off!

So I'm out driving the other day. Ryan and I were on the way to the barber shop for two much-needed haircuts.

All of a sudden, this car starts to pull out right in front of me.  I slam on the brakes and blow the horn.   The horn was just my first reaction.  I had to do whatever I could to get this driver's attention. Otherwise, we were going to collide.

Thankfully, the car stopped.  But as I drove past, the woman in the passenger seat flipped me off!

What the heck?!?!?

Nothing in the entire scenario was my fault. Actually, the fact that I used my horn was probably the only thing that saved us from being in an accident.

And yet…this woman flipped me the bird!

Gotta be honest here…I really wanted to stop the car and have chat with this couple. But I didn't.  I just kept on driving.

First of all, there were two of them and only one of me. I'm pretty sure my five-year-old son wouldn't have been much help, so I was on my own.

Second, I really didn't want Ryan to see me display my anger in that manner.

Third, I don't want to live like a fool. The Bible says, "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Proverbs 29:11, NIV)  I don't want to be a fool in God's eyes.

Now, I would be lying if I said that part of me didn't want to jump out of my car.  I did.  I had a few things that I wanted to impart to these folks.  But it would have been a stupid, immature, and completely foolish thing to do because my anger only lasted a moment.

By the time we arrived at the barber shop, my anger had subsided.  The whole scenario I just described really didn't matter in the grand scheme of my life.  I was mad for a moment, but I chose not to act on my anger.  And I was really glad I made that choice.

A sudden outburst of anger will feel good at the time.  (If it didn't feel good, we wouldn't do it.)  But the regret will far outlast the moment of pleasure that we experience.

Hope that little tidbit comes in handy the next time someone tells you that, "You're #1."