An ancient memory pictures an event that
occurred when I was four. I was busily engaged in playing with grain
stored in the spare bedroom of a farm home where my family lived. My
small hands were spreading the grain over the floor. What fun! Then, my
father called up from the cellar, where he could hear the grainy
scratching sounds. Clearly, I heard him tell me to stop playing with the
grain. I continued. He called again. Several times, this happened. Then,
I heard footsteps approaching the door of the room where I was playing.
Those footsteps sounded to me like those of an angry man ready to call
me to account for what I was doing. I had no desire to take the
consequences for my behaviour. Unhesitatingly, I moved to the door, with
its unusual lock device near the doorknob, and closed the lock. My
father could not enter. But now, I was trapped! I found myself in a bind
because consequences awaited outside that door. I couldn't stay there
forever, so eventually, I unlocked the door and entered the hallway. It
isn't surprising to note that in short order, I was bent over my
father's knees as he applied firm correction to the seat of knowledge --
the only spanking that he ever gave me. In my assessment of the
situation at the time, I thought that he was justifiably angry at me.
Anger is a normal human experience. Sometimes,
anger lasts but a brief time, but other times when the wound is deep and
the hurt profound, we may find our minds captivated by angry thoughts
from which escape seems impossible. The joy in everyday life is marred
as these thoughts take over. What can we do? How can we rid ourselves of
angry and vengeful thoughts? The Bible tells us:
"'In your anger do not sin': Do not let the
sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a
foothold." (Ephesians 4:26a NIV)
However, it is not healthy to just put a plug
in the anger and stop it up. We need healthy ways to deal with anger. We
first need to admit that we are angry, so that we can deal with it.
When Jesus was dying on the cross, He gave us
all the highest example of how to behave towards those who have caused
us harm. He said to His enemies, "Father, forgive them, for they do not
know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34 NIV)
Forgiveness plays a basic role in ridding
ourselves of anger. Distraction can also be a powerful ally. Engaging
ourselves in mentally demanding activity can override the dark thoughts
that cling persistently. When one's thoughts are busy with productive
mental work, the mind has no space remaining. Dark thoughts are ousted.
Ridding ourselves of deep anger is a process.
We need time and patience with ourselves. As we redirect our thoughts
into life-giving, productive channels, in time, this, too, will pass,
and we will have been able to navigate successfully past the storm of
angry thoughts without causing anyone harm. We will have heeded the wise
words of the Bible: "In your anger do not sin."
Prayer: Loving God, thank You for the amazing
words of Jesus, when He said, "Father, forgive them for they do not know
what they are doing." Thank You, too, for our wonderful minds that
enable us, with Your help, to live lives that find their direction in
Jesus, our Lord and Saviour. Amen.
Joan
Adams
Grimsby, Ontario, Canada
Reprinted from the PresbyCan Daily
Devotional with the author's permission
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.