Generally speaking, I try not to have peeves. People can irritate me, but I probably don’t spend much time with people apart from family. And when you live in a house together, it’s best to avoid getting irritated. I couldn’t think of any pet peeves. I asked Microsoft Copilot to list some common ones to get me thinking. So here is my top three:
- Smoking at bus stops and other public spaces
- I never like being in the presence of tobacco smoke. When I was growing up in Ireland, it was everywhere. Any laws made were ignored. Then, for whatever reason, everything changed. New laws were introduced and people abided by them. It seemed that Ireland was finally growing up. But if you sit outdoors at a cafe or wait for a bus, you can still encounter people smoking. But I’m thankful that it’s not as bad as it was.
- Leaving lights on in empty rooms
- I know that it’s not a big thing, but I habitually avoid wasting energy, partly to save money and partly to save the planet. And I expect others to do likewise.
- Borrowing things and not returning them
- The main issue here is that I forget who borrowed what, so I find books, DVDs, or computer games that I don’t regularly use go missing.
So, someone borrowed my Mariokart DS, and I never got it back. Or else, someone lends me a book that they find helpful. I take it just to please them. I read a few pages, get bored and put it away for a while. Then I forget all about it. Eventually, they wonder why they’re not getting their book back. So nowadays, I just don’t borrow things 😀. I’m still hoping to get my Mariokart back.
So, this being an evangelistic site, how do I weave Scripture into this. Are there any pet peeves in the Bible. Did any of the apostles chew with their mouth open? 😀 Well it does have a lot to say about tolerance:
Proverbs 15:18
“A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.”
Proverbs 15:1
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Ephesians 4:2
“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
Philippians 2:14
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing.”
Colossians 3:13
“Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.”
And it has much more to say about sin, which is more than a peeve. Our sins greatly offend God – so much so that we face his wrath. However, God provides a means of forgiveness and reconciliation through the Saviour, who we celebrate at Christmas.
Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Matthew 1:21
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
1 Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King:
peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!"
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
join the triumph of the skies;
with th'angelic hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"
Hibernia Gospel 
🚭.. 🤢
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