by Sandy Kirby Quandt

The older I get the less I sweat the small stuff. You know what I mean? I get less irritated by things that used to really annoy me. I’m not saying small stuff doesn’t still get to me, especially when I’m tired or fatigued, just that it doesn’t bother me as often, and not to the same degree it used to.

I doubt anyone who knows my Kirby family would say we were a patient lot. (Just ask our spouses. 🙂 ) Nope. Quite the contrary. Our “Irish temper” is one excuse that has been given for our impatience. But that’s just an excuse, not a fact. The fact is we have a bent toward impatience, Irish or not.

Here are some of the things I found associated with an Irish temper. After you read them, I believe you will be able to see some of these same traits in people who aren’t necessarily “Irish”.

• You can hold a grudge
•  You wish bad luck on people
•  You take stubborn to a new level
•  Short fuse
•  Passion steers the wheel
•  You’re a fighter

As a follower of Christ, a Christian, we are to have a mind, a temper, like Christ. We are to daily strive to become more and more like our Savior. He is our role model, after all. Once we accept Jesus as our Savior, his Holy Spirit comes to dwell – to live – in us. The Holy Spirit can help us control our Irish temper, or any other kind of temper. He can help us let go of grudges. He can help us desire good for others, not harm.

With the Holy Spirit’s help we can tame our short fuse and become more patient. He can help us turn our passion to the things of God, and toward advancing God’s Kingdom here on earth. The Holy Spirit can take our fighting spirit and turn it for good to love mercy, seek justice, and right the wrongs we see.

Would you say you have an Irish Temper, or are you under the Holy Spirit’s control developing the Fruit of the Spirit in you?

Leave a comment below to share your thoughts on the subject. If you think others would appreciate reading this, please share it through the social media buttons.

God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. Galatians 5:22-23 (CEV)

I wish you well.

Sandy

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