Brandishing: Addendum

After a stern rebuke from my best friend (and a few others), I just want to add here that I know I am not as violent and brandishing as may have previously been conveyed.

Although internally I feel like I struggle with volatile emotions, especially in high-stress or tense situations (which I seem to be in often) and in my mind I may feel like a maniac wielding a violent temper or navigating stormy seas, I'd say in reality I am pretty gentle in most of my relationships, and pretty steady and stable most of the time. I do fumble the pass sometimes and blurt out something inconsiderate or insensitive. But most the time I'm pretty good. Most the time I fault on the side of not saying anything at all.

But there is indeed a place for offering specific and stern feedback, and often not offering this is more out of lack of care or selfishness to avoid personal discomfort, which further handicaps human relationships. Sometimes offering appropriate feedback is the hardest and most important thing to do for people. The intent behind the feedback is most important.

As for the inconsistent and volatile emotions. I'm pretty sure most people feel like they are not completely stable and have pretty volatile emotions. Most of us have probably wondered at some point in life if we are completely balanced. I'm not sure many of us have much control over that. But what we can do is get better at responding to the ups and downs and everything in between. To endure with grace. And then surrender the rest to the Lord, knowing we can't control everything. That's probably the hardest part, surrendering control of our weaknesses and depending on the Lord.

Thanks for your feedback and support. And for chancing to be my friend, despite the perils of having a fire-breathing dragon in your life.