Love is Good Temper – Part Two.

Or rephrased: Love is NOT Bad Temper. It does not need to show itself as the "red hot" of the love color spectrum.

In his book “The Greatest Thing in the World” Henry Drummond discusses the effects of the temper of the elder brother on the Prodigal Son (and his Father). Drummond asks the question: How many prodigals never come homes because of the unlovely characters inside the house.

What is temper made of: Jealousy, anger, pride, uncharity, cruelty, self-righteousness, touchiness, doggedness, sullenness – these are the ingredients of this dark and loveless soul.

A dictionary definition of temper: habit of mind, especially with respect the irritability or patience, outbursts of anger, or the like. Heat of mind or passion, shown in outbursts of anger, resentment, etc.

“You will see then why Temper is significant. It is not in what it is alone, but in what it reveals. This is why I take the liberty now of speaking of it with such unusual plainness. It is a test for love, a symptom, a revelation of an unloving nature at bottom. It is the intermittent fever which bespeaks unintermittent disease within; the occasional bubble escaping to the surface which betrays some rottenness underneath; a sample of the most hidden product of the soul dropped involuntarily when off one’s guard; in a word, the lightning form of a hundred hideous and un-Christian sins.” (H. Drummond)

The temper of a person will set the temperature of a household. It sets the tone. The experience or the memories of and with this temper will determine whether people want to get close, whether they want to come in … or come home.

In our house, we are not “touchy” --- and we remind each of other of that whenever it’s appropriate. Allowing yourself to be touchy, will open the door to other selfish thoughts.

I am not touchy and I don’t ever want to be a hindrance to anyone coming home . . . Home for any reason. How about you?