I recently taught on anger at church and during my preparation I saw more deeply how my stepfather’s unchecked anger did great damage to me, my family, friends and neighbors.
Proverbs 29:11 tells us that “fools give vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”
Anger unleashed has such a destructive impact. In my family it destroyed lives and physical bodies. Marked by our stepfather’s explosive anger and rage we then went on to act out our anger and rage in all too similar fashion. The way we express our anger is often learned in the home. We were “discipled” by a man that was frustrated, always complaining, and never pleasant. We learned unhealthy patterns of expressing anger. I’ve seen this anger manifest in every sibling and in myself. It is anger unleashed, without form, and it is dangerous.
Verse 29b of the aforementioned proverb tells us that “a hot-tempered person commits many sins.”
My stepfather got mad at neighbors, kids playing on the front lawn, extended family, the bill collectors, and anyone who looked at him the wrong way. He committed many sins in his rage and anger. Uncertain when he would explode, my siblings and I walked around on eggshells wondering who would be next to get yelled at, slapped, or beaten.