The Right Thing to Do
by During trying times, how do we know what is the right thing to do?
Wouldn’t the world be wonderful if everyone chose the right thing to do? Joyce Meyer says, “Don’t do what you feel, do what is right.” We get wrapped up in our emotions; we become impulsive reacting with our feelings instead of doing what is right. You can feel like doing the wrong thing, but choose to do the right thing.
The things we get upset about don’t fix our problems. For example, a few weeks ago my husband was drying the dishes. He had a heavy crystal pickle dish in his hands. The soap caused the dish to slip, bounce off the counter and smash to the floor into a hundred pieces, some resembling ice cubes. My gut reaction normally would have been to pitch a fit, instead I said quite calmly, “Oops, oh well,” and proceeded to clean up the mess. My teenage daughter was disturbed by my reaction. “If I had done that you would have yelled at me,” she said. I knew she was right but I had begun to make an honest effort to do what was right instead of acting on feelings. I also think, however, my cavalier attitude was intended to keep my husband from erupting and cussing himself out. Whatever my intentions, I feel I did the right thing. What good would have come from me getting upset about something I had no control over?
Life is too short to spend it upset or worried. It’s wasted energy. Stress and worry can affect your health. Doesn’t it make sense to choose to be happy instead of being upset or depressed over something you can’t change?
Recently I found myself worrying about a discussion my husband and I had just had with a family member who was seeking the truth about an incident that involved her husband. Though my husband wanted to give the guy the benefit of the doubt I felt she needed to know the truth. Afterwards I worried how my husband would react? Would he be upset with me for saying too much? I went into the bathroom and took a deep breath.
“Devil,” I said. “Get lost! God, you are with me and I trust You.” As I continued to pray in this manner I felt my body relaxing. I felt peace. And my husband never said a word to me about the conversation. You see how things can work out if you just “Let go and let God”?
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Post CommentAncient Aspie
On October 22, 2008 at 12:35 pm
It does take a lot of patience and self-discipline to change how you react to things, but it’s very worthwhile. I agree that the change can be upsetting to other members of the family at first, but you’re changing the example you’re setting for them, and that’s also a good thing.
mdegenhardt
On October 22, 2008 at 2:56 pm
Excellent advice! It’s important to keep your head when all about are losing theirs, a line from a famous poem. I have 4 children 15 and under and it only becomes a yelling match so ,y wife and I have been doing just this. Very well laid out for everyone. Michael
Lauren Axelrod
On October 22, 2008 at 5:34 pm
Well done. I wish I could say that my emotion don’t get the better of me sometimes.
Christine Ramsay
On October 23, 2008 at 8:23 am
I must admit I used to get very cross with members of my family w hen they broke things and then there would be a row and everyone would go off in a huff. I decided life was too short to be angry over trifles, so I now say ‘never mind’ and clear up. My son finds this difficult to accept and he tells himself off. It is really quite funny to see.
Ruby Hawk
On October 23, 2008 at 10:49 pm
You are so right. Letting yourself get upset doesn’t help a thing. You make your best decisions when you are calm.
3cardmonte
On October 24, 2008 at 11:58 am
Getting angry at the little things is normal,as they say it’s the little things that make up life. Keeping calm is so much harder than everybody thinks. I can understand why your daughter would be cross as like you said, you would have yelled at her, people used to yell at me all the time when I broke stuff, I couldn’t help being clumsy. Things get broken,it happens, i would get cross with myself too and that doesn’t do anybody any good.
Mary Patricia Bird
On October 24, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Well, that was the first time I kept my head about me. Sad to say I haven’t been that patient of late. It really is hard to do.
BC Doan
On November 25, 2008 at 12:51 pm
This is good to remember not to get upset!