Cole and I were together the other day when out of the blue he said, “Don’t get your attitude out. You can’t be a big boy if you do.” One of his teachers had probably said it at school and as a result, Cole learned an important life lesson: control your attitude.

Our attitudes can affect a lot of things. They can affect our relationships, our work environments, and our families. Most of all, our attitudes can affect our relationship with our heavenly father.

Our relationship with our heavenly father is an interesting thing. Our relationship with him affects our relationships with others. And the way we relate to others says a lot about our relationship with him.

Is our attitude one of frustration? Do things easily upset us? If so, then we lack the peace that Scripture tells us is ours as God’s children (John 14:27).

Is our attitude one of pride? Pride was a big problem for a lot of people in the Bible. It remains a big problem for a lot of people today. Pride is at odds with the humility God calls us to have (Philippians 2:5-8).

Is our attitude one of stinginess? Do we hoard our possessions and finances, refusing to share with others because we want it for ourselves? Do we withhold blessings (or forgiveness) from others, when we’ve been blessed with (forgiven of) so much? Then we lack the grace that God not only extended to us, but that he expects us to extend to others (Matthew 18:23-35).

Is our attitude one of anger? Do we lose our tempers at the slightest provocation? Have we spoken in anger, hurting another with our words? Have we even come to physical blows with another because of our anger?

God had every right to respond to our sinfulness in anger and punish us harshly for our rebellious ways. Instead, he showed us mercy (Romans 5:8). He sent his own son Jesus to die so we could be forgiven of our sins. Instead of giving us what we deserved, he gave us what we needed.

What would cause God to do this? His love, that’s what. God has loved us so much, and now he desires that we show that same love to others. The best way to do that is by exhibiting the right kinds of attitudes for others to see.

So don’t get your attitude out. You can’t be a big boy (or girl) if you do.

Parrish Myers is a local minister. His column appears biweekly in Sunday Life and on gainesvilletimes.com/life.