I am all for taking the opportunity to teach my children when the moment is right. That is exactly what I did the other day when a couple of our boys were arguing. Rather than simply punish them, I wanted to really explain to them why what they were doing was wrong and how it could affect not only the person they were mistreating (in this case their brother), but it could also affect them as well.
I explained to my boys how Christians are different. We must remember to react in a Christian way and that anger and not controlling our temper is not the right away to react. Are we going to be faced with anger throughout life…yes, however we have choices in how we react to that anger and making the right choice is very important.
I went on to tell my boys about the story of Cain and Abel (Adam and Eve’s first born sons). God required an offering of innocent animals as a sacrifice from each of them. Abel obeyed God and brought a lamb, however Cain did not obey God when he brought fruit as his offering. Cain had a choice and he chose to disobey God. (I explained this to my boys because we always have a choice as well. God allows us to make decisions of our own, we just need to think before we make these decisions and make sure we are choosing what is right in God’s eyes). Cain became jealous of his brother Abel and even though Abel really didn’t do anything to Cain (it was Cain who disobeyed God and caused God to reject him), he held anger towards him and eventually took his brother’s (Abel) life.
God has warned us that we may get angry, but we must not sin. This is the NIV translation of Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
I explained to my boys how losing our temper may feel like we are being the stronger one, however it is really a sign of weakness, not strength. The best way we can handle our anger and hurt feelings is to take them to God.
Always remember that when you are angry, you are in danger of sinning. We must be angry at nothing but sin.
More to Come on Raising My 5 Sons…
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