THREE THIEVES

What makes some people hurt other peoples feelings is something I'll never understand. I think we've all known those people who seem to enjoy building themselves up by tearing others down. I was always taught to live by the golden rule. They actually taught that in elementary school when I was a child. Anger, Anguish, Aggravation these are the three thieves that steal our joy and shorten our lives. Looking back through the years I’ve known several people who seemed to love to be in one or all of these attitudes. Abraham Lincoln said: “Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be” Anger is sinful when it is expressed in wrong actions. When we blow up at someone, psychologist call it venting, God calls it sin. We often use the energy mobilized by this emotion to tear down others.

My little Aunt Allie was a saint unless you got her mad, then watch out. I was with her once when we drove onto a one lane bridge. The custom was who ever got on the bridge first had the right of way. Well this day she got there first but the man on the other side was in a hurry and tried to bully his way across. They met in the middle of the bridge, got out of the cars and had a screaming match. I was a teenager, my sister and I were and so embarrassed. He did not know who he was messing with. She told him she would sit on that bridge all day, all night and the next day if she had to and she meant it. After what seemed an eternity with her throwing a real conniption fit he gave up and backed off the bridge, she drove past him still in a rage. I guess you could call that one righteous indignation, but that would be pushing it because she was really, really mad.

It is the wise man or woman who maintains self-control. Too many words are spoken in anger without thought to the scars that will be left on loved ones, words of anger and discouragement are not easily forgotten. If you have justified anger, deal with it in a calm manner. Anger generates more anger and in the feeding frenzy it becomes a monster, totally out of control, devouring all that gets in its destructive path.

Forgiveness is the best salve there is for a hurting heart. Holding on to bitterness will destroy us. In the long run, we lose when we hang on to the pain. Forgiveness is a choice we make, not because the person or persons deserve to be forgiven, but because God commands us to love one another. He hates the sin, but loves the sinner, and that is how we should be. It’s a hard task to forgive when we’ve been wronged, because we are not able to forget. Some of the pains from past experiences run themselves through my mind like reruns of an old movie on a seemingly regular basis. I have to run to God in prayer and ask for strength to love and to forgive. (Proverbs 29:11 A fool utters all his mind: but a wise man keeps it in till afterward.)

Anger Is An Evil Power
By: Lillian Carol Russell

Anger speaks with cruel words that cut just like a knife,

Imparting bitter feelings of pain and hurt and strife.

Anger is the devil’s tool;

He uses it often to destroy the golden rule.

Always treat others the very same way;
That you’d have them treat you day after day.

Take time to say you're sorry when you've caused somebody pain,
Give no power to anger, never let this monster reign.

Oh wouldn’t the world be a wonderful place,
If everyone treated his fellow man with only love and grace.

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Psalms 34:14-17 …Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it. The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and His ears open unto their cry. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to cut off remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.