How have you dealt with your kids’ failure? I’m not talking about huge moral failings. I’m talking about everyday, run-of-the-mill kids’ kind of troublemaking. You know the kind: kids using a freshly painted living room wall as a magic marker masterpiece. Or how about the whole gallon of milk poured into one little tiny glass, which spills all over the brand-new carpet? Or, how about the boys using sand as gasoline in your new lawn mower? Yeah, THOSE. What does the Bible say? Proverbs 15:18 says, “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” (ESV). Moms and Dads, do you want contention in your home, or peace? One produces a loving home, the other a home on pins and needles.

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.

Suggested Reading: Proverbs 15:18,, Proverbs 29:22