Day Three of “Getting Ready for Christmas” (Read Micah 5:2-4)
“. . . in the counseling room, I have repeatedly seen the disheartening results of anger run amuck. Anger is one of the most difficult and potentially destructive emotions experienced by humans. We speak of “losing it”, “going off on someone”, “exploding”, “going ballistic”, etc. We see physical and verbal abuse; and the equally devastating effects of “stonewalling” or withholding love to passive-aggressively punish a loved one. Whenever we express anger in these ways, we set ourselves back in the forward movement of our growth and in the growth of our relationships. I have never, in 30 years of counseling and 43 years of marriage, seen inappropriately expressed anger have a net good effect. It always, without fail, has a negative effect. If you think of building a good life [good relationships, security, peace, trust, harmony, contentment, joy, etc.] as a process like building a beautiful house in which to live; blowing off anger in abusive ways is like tearing down a wall or a staircase of the house. We have to rebuild it! If we “lose it” again, we tear down more of what we have been working to build. If we repeat this cycle enough times, we can destroy the hope of ever building the house. Our loved ones will know that, no matter how sorry we are for the damage done in our anger, no matter how apologetic we are, it’s going to happen again. And even if they forgive us, they do not trust us. We have not given them a reason to. There is no substitute for self-control”–Mark Graham.
“Humility is not for wimps. It’s not for wallflowers or for those who easily back down. It’s actually a ‘great force of hidden strength’ “–Bethany Monk.
God knows what He can do through your life if you’re willing to open yourself up to Him. He’ll remove obstacles such as pride, fear, and greed that hinder your spiritual growth. Then He’ll build in qualities such as humility, forgiveness, and faith”–Richard Blackaby.
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3 Responses
“Resentment is like drinking poison and hoping it will poison your enemy.” Nelson Mandela
“Resentment s like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Carrie Fisher
“Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.” Adaption from AA
No Scientific Christian ever considers hatred or execration to be “justifiable” in any circumstances, but whatever your opinion about that might be, there is no question about its practical consequences to you. You might as well swallow a dose of Prussic acid in two gulps, and think to protect yourself by saying, “This one is for Robespierre; and this one for the Bristol murderer” [who had previously been cited as objects of hatred]. You will hardly have any doubt as to who will receive the benefit of the poison.” Extract from: The Sermon on the Mount, by Emmet Fox, 1930’s, suggested likely source of AA printings.
“Hatred is like a poison which you inject into your veins, before injecting it into your enemy. It is throwing cow dung at another: you dirty your hands first, before you dirty others.” Gems of Buddhist Wisdom (1996) from the Buddhist Missionary Society
“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, sayeth the Lord.” Scripture of the Most High
“Look for Wisdom and you will find God at every turn.” Ed Matthew
“God is pervasive throughout every creature, every culture. What else should one expect? Isn’t He the Author and Creator of All? ‘There is no Good apart from God’ was spoken by One Who should Know.” Ed Matthew
“Look for God to show up, He is in His People. What He could do without them He seldom does, unless they too show up.” Ed Matthew Romans 12:4&5 adaptation
Blessings
Thanks Waylon. Christmas blessings to you and your family.
Is Mark Graham a pastor? And if so, where is he located?
Blessings,
\David