Proverbs 19:11 

A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense. (NIV)

Smart people know how to hold their tongue; their grandeur is to forgive and forget. (MSG)

—

We, the Permanently and Perpetually Aggrieved (PPA), do hereby protest this verse. We demand that it be removed from the Bible. It is clearly opposed to reality as we see it and as we want it to be. 

We have our right to be offended and therefore offensive in how we express our irritation. We choose to fight anyone, anywhere, anytime who disagrees with us. No slight is too small. We refuse to overlook anything. We will hold every person accountable for our irritability. Our discomfort is your fault. 

We will not be nice. We will not be patient. We will not be kind. We will not overlook any wrong. We want what we want and we want it now. 

Everything you do and offend us. 

Ahem.

This is what watching television news and reading Newspapers of Record sounds like. When the history of this age is written, either the headline or the subheading will likely declare this time as The Age of Irritability. 

Some people are attempting to turn anger and associated attitudes into art forms. Art is in the eye of the beholder. The Beholder, the One by whom we should all want to be held, has a different opinion. His wisdom leads to patience. His love is demonstrated through patience and kindness. If he got offended by every offensive thing we do, we would be in Big, Big Trouble. 

His wisdom leads to calmer, quieter, more peaceful lives. His wisdom empowers people to connect and cooperate and to enjoy one another. 

Life is way too short to be irritable all the time. 

Life is so much better when we overlook offenses. 

—

I will live a patient life disconnected from irritability. 

—

Our Father, grow me in wisdom. Grow me in patience and kindness. Deliver me from irritability. Amen.