Joy and irritation

There are days when irritation gets hold of me rather quickly. The Christian thing to do is to overlook the offense. “Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense” (Proverbs 19:11). But I hadn't really thought of overlooking minor offenses—which, to me, includes a person cutting the long queue, whiny children who play with their parents' phones in cafés, a waiter who overlooks my order, a friend who comes late for a lunch meeting—as something that brings joy. Scotty Smith enumerates five reasons why joy is found in overlooking an offense.

1. When we overlook an offense, we can rejoice that we’re growing gospel sensibilities and tasting true glory.
2. When we overlook an offense, we can rejoice that we’re starting to acknowledge our own sin.
3. When we overlook an offense, we can rejoice that God’s grace and Spirit are becoming more operative, transforming powers in our lives.
4. When we overlook an offense, we can rejoice that we’re gaining freedom from living as approval seekers.
5. When we overlook an offense, we can rejoice that we’re getting better at forgiving others as we’ve been forgiven in Christ.

I pray I don't grow old to be a grumbling man!