After spending three and a half hours enduring the long lines, surly clerks and insane regulations at the Department of Motor Vehicles, a man stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for his son.

He brought his selection -- a baseball bat -- to the cash register. "Cash or charge?" the clerk asked.

"Cash," he snapped. Then apologizing for his rudeness, he explained, "I've spent the afternoon at the motor-vehicle bureau."

"Shall I gift wrap the bat?" the clerk asked sweetly. "Or are you going back there?"

Ever had one of those days? Traffic, deadlines at work, rude customers, fussy children, registration for classes!!! There are perhaps some days that you're tempted to stop off at the store for a baseball bat.

What is the key to surviving all the stress we encounter? Simply this -- we must decide that we will not allow people and circumstances to determine our attitude (I said it was simple, I didn't say it was easy).

"So then, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to wrath;
for the wrath of man does not produce
the righteousness of God."
(James 1:19-20)

May you deal with the difficulties you encounter today
with the spirit of Christ.