Responding to Life’s Little Irritations

Do you ever feel as though life’s little annoyances pile up some days? Perhaps each irritation stretches your nerves until you snap? Or maybe they fill you with grace?”

You’re not alone if the last response surprised you.

Numerous annoyances gnawed at my patience level the other day: My curling iron vanished from my bathroom into my daughter’s bedroom. The garage doors remained open as she scooted off to her friend’s house. Her helmet sat on the ground instead of on her head. Then she ignored her curfew.

That’s when the message I posted on my fridge jumped out at me: “Be patient with each other, making allowances for each other’s faults, because of your love” – Ephesians 4:2.

My daughter caught a break that day after I allowed the scripture to take root. I willed my frustration to fade as I accepted her mistakes and responded in love. I even remained calm as we disussed the helmet and curfew issues. She understood my concern for her safety. I think it soothed her anxious and unrelenting need for love. Don’t get me wrong. She still faced a natural consequence. She lost her scootering privilege for a day but nothing more. To my surprise, she handled the blow better than expected.

We can influence what our children say and how they behave. But we can’t always control them. What we can  control is our reactions. Ephesians 4:2 helps me realize the importance of offering grace when people make mistakes and it makes me think twice before responding.

How will you respond to your children’s irritations? Will it be out of anger or with love?