Yesterday, January 28th, 2013, Lesean McCoy, star NFL running back for the Philadelphia Eagles was burned by the world of Twitter. Initially, claiming someone hacked into his account, (I’ve heard that one before) he publicly apologized for airing his dirty laundry. In an exchange with his ex-girl friend, Lesean acknowledged that he lost control of his temper and should have been more mature, dealing with this matter face to face like a man during an interview on CSN, the Comcast Sports Network.
Unfortunately, Lesean was not aware of Solomon’s words in Proverbs 21:23. “He who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself from calamity.” A womanizer in his own right, King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines, 1 Kings 11:3, before he settled down. Solomon recognized that woman often bring out the worst in a man as detailed by his words in Proverbs 21:19. “Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife.” In case you forget, Solomon repeats these warnings throughout Proverbs like the version in Proverbs 21:9.
According to C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, anyone can acquire prudence and temperance, within his chapter on the Cardinal Virtues. Lewis defines prudence as practical common sense, thinking about what you are about to do or say and the likely outcome of it. Temperance on the other hand is learning to go or take something to the right distance, but no further. You don’t have to be religious to apply these basic principles. Rather, one must have an inner desire to better themselves, to maintain a good reputation and leave a legacy that is honorable. Therefore, the next time you think about tweeting when you are angry, reflect before making your words public! Then, you might make this world a better place.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 