I pitched one of my famous tantrums the other day. My kids have seen them. Most of my friends have not. My computer got a virus, the electricity went out in half my house, and I’m having some financial issues right now. I’d just had enough. I was slamming doors, knocked the dog food over and yelling about anything and everything.
As I calmed down, I wondered why it is we’d rather slam a door than say a prayer. Imagine if more people stopped to pray before they let anger take control. There would be far less crime, less child abuse, and Congress might actually get something done.
We need to control our emotions and not let them get the better of us. Getting angry is just one step away from hurting someone else. Afterward we can apologize, but there’s no guarantee it will be forgotten.
We need to stop and allow God to take control of our emotions. Psalm 37:8 reads, Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil.
If I had taken a deep breath, counted to ten and prayed, I wouldn’t have had to clean up the dog food that went all over the floor. That would have given me one less thing to be angry about.
Amen to that, Kathy! If only we could turn that adrenolin into somethign productive.
Sometimes, it’s okay to be angry. God wired us with emotions. But He also wants us to be angry, but sin not.
Hang in there, good things are coming!
Hanging by my fingertips.
Aw, yes. If it were only that easy. The best I can hope for in those moments is to not forever ruin someone’s opinion of me or a relationship.
Good thing my kids are used to it. I just hate to act like a two year old in front of them when I want them to act grown up.
At least it was not the dog food and its water – oh, what a squishy mess!! So, there was something to be thankful for!. We are given these emotions to learn
how to control them and use them for the good….not an easy lesson. But one God expects us to spend our lives working on – and when the ah-ha moment
comes that “for once I handled that without getting so upset” – it is a joyful
moment to praise God!! And when we don’t get past it without being anger, its
a time to lean on God for direction (I have been leaning hard lately!!).
I had the ah-ha moment. I just hope I remember it when the next time comes.