“Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20
When I reflect on this quote, my thoughts turn immediately to my grandfather. He was a gentle and kind soul with a lot of inner strength and a deep Faith. He had been a fireman his entire life in downtown Detroit, including the years of the riots in the 60’s, and this must have had an impact on the formation of his character. He would often sit in his rocking chair and read a book, but whenever I came over to him, he dropped his book and listened attentively to what I had to say. He would reflect a bit before speaking and I never saw him lose control or express anger, even when we broke things or made a lot of noise. He transmitted peace and wisdom, and I am grateful that I was able to know him.