Thought for the Week

Each morning one of the first emails I open is a verse for the day.

This week, on the day of writing, my verse was: “If you become angry, don’t let your anger lead you into sin, and don’t stay angry all day.”

This really talked to me as I thought about things that had made me angry recently, things like a close friend being very unwell, the tragic loss of life in large scales in our country and in our wider world.

Sometimes anger can come from more minor things, maybe being cut up in the car, or an argument at home.

What I have witnessed is that when anger starts to escalate, it can have a domino effect and those around us can become angry. There is real possibility of that anger dividing us.

We are reminded here it’s okay to be angry for the right reasons, it doesn’t say never be angry.

It is right to be angry at the inequality we see, at horrible terror events, at dreadful illness, however we still need to be in control of that anger. When we are in control of it, we can use it to make changes for the better.

Thoughtless anger can hurt others and destroy relationships, and if bottled up it can cause us to be bitter.

I was also reminded of something my mum used to say when I was little – ‘don’t go to bed until you’ve kissed and made up’.

When we allow anger to take hold of us and we don’t let go, that negativity will continue to grow and may lead us to act in a way that can be destructive.

When you next get angry, pause to think, is this anger right and helpful? If not, let it go, or as my mum would say, kiss and make up. Alison Kennedy Flemington Hallside Church