"If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape a hundred days of sorrow."
Chinese Proverb.
A few weeks ago I witnessed an incident that shocked me. Two little boys were standing in front of the candle stand at Church. One, about eight, was trying to touch the lighted candles. The other, about five, was trying to do what his brother did. The mother of the children rushes in and starts beating the older boy for playing with lighted candles and allowing his younger brother to do likewise. Shouting at the top of her voice, she berated the older boy in unkind words and continued to physically assault him. In shame and pain, the little boy cringed.
What example was the mother setting? Was her angry outburst a solution? Would she correct her child or harden him in his disobedient ways? Often our mindless words and actions result in the opposite effect we want to produce. Very often we scandalize our children through our irresponsible acts.
