On the days when I step out of bed as MR ABRASIVE people wonder, “what has happened to the Chaplain? He is not usually so abrasive! Better steer clear of him today.” Some who know me well might think, “Oh well, everyone has bad days.”
Less sympathetic types may choose to point out my abrasiveness. This may jolt me back into better behaviour or it could feed the monster that I have become. This monstrous behaviour of mine is a real problem. What happens to those who are meeting me for the first time? Faced with MR ABRASIVE – what are they to think? “That Chaplain has an abrasive personality. I am going to steer clear of him forever.”
My behaviour can be infectious. The first impression I make could be lasting. It could be destructive to me. It could be permanently unhelpful to others. I think I understand this reality and this normally keeps MR ABRASIVE in check. That is normally! But pity help my darling wife, who has to endure with MR ABRASIVE‘s behaviour. He mistakenly thinks his family should, ought and must put up with his bad behaviour. After all he thinks and mutters under his breath, “That is their job isn’t it? Surely they should, ought, must understand the pressure that I am under.”
MR ABRASIVE is fortunately married to Mrs Patience. But even she has her limits and sometimes has to remind MR ABRASIVE of a few home truths that he desperately needs to hear, such as:
- MR ABRASIVE’s behaviour and attitudes affect other people.
- It is not fair for MR ABRASIVE to afflict other’s with his bad behaviour.
- If MR ABRASIVE has a problem or is unhappy then he needs to do something about that.
- It seems that I shouldn’t take my sadness and frustrations out on other people.
Do you ever feel like a foolish character from a children’s book?
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but hard words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15: 1
“Your own soul is nourished when you are kind, but you destroy yourself when you are cruel.” Proverbs 11:17
eChap’s Prayer for today
“Lord, I can be abrasive, uncaring and unaware of the damage my behaviour is causing myself and others. My selfishness camouflages the reality that I am making my situation worse and blaming others for my predicament. Uncover my sin and help me to change both my attitude and behaviour. Amen.“
Attributions:
- Screenshot from SpongeBob SquarePants episode “The Abrasive Side”. https://villains.fandom.com/wiki/Abrasive_SpongeBob
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