A store manager was walking through the packing room when he saw a young man lounging on a shipping crate, whistling and relaxing. He asked how much he was paid. After the young man answered, the manager said, “Here’s a week’s pay. Get out!”

The manager immediately found the department head and demanded to know who had hired the young man. He replied, “We didn’t hire him. He was just here to pick up a package.”

In another situation, umpire Bill Guthrie addressed a rookie base-ball player who had thrown his bat into the air to protest a called strike. Guthrie told the young man, “Son, if that bat comes down, you’re out of the game.”

Most of us, just like the manager and young ball player, have done or said things in a fit of anger that we quickly regretted. Many seem to be habitual offenders, hurting others and getting hurt. Only a power greater than ourselves can overcome such tendencies. The promise of God is that the gift of the Holy Spirit produces the fruit of love (which is not easily angered) and self-control (Galatians 5:23).

God’s Spirit can produce an abundance of such fruit in our lives! Ask Him.