There was a time, when the anger inside me ruled over me.
When I talk about it now and people look at me, they sorta doubt me.

As I Sit’n’Sip on the patio conversing with God my mug contents enhance my moment of worship. Years ago, sitting on a barstool the contents of my glass spurred on the anger that lived in my heart.

My son just turned 30 this last week, and we were spending some time together. As we drove, we conversed and mostly laughed and made fun of…me. At one point we switched drivers because of my slow motion driving! (I still chuckle about being critiqued on my driving by the kid whom I taught to drive.) Adding to our humorous ride, I laughingly started talking about kicking a certain person’s tail. A person who had done a good friend of mine wrong. We both had a good laugh because we knew that I wasn’t serious, and seriously wasn’t thinking about doing it. He then switched the conversation to a past situation almost a year ago, where I was being physically pushed on and yelled at by someone who for 25 years had dished out grief to our family. He half teased me that I must of been afraid of that person. I thought carefully about my response, not wanting to miss a pivotal moment of teaching here, even though he’s 30 …I am still his mother. My response was truthful, but light not exactly the deep response I could of given, but I told him “I don’t want to finish badly, I want to finish well” we then moved on to another topic.

Giving up my anger, and hanging up the boxing gloves came as I began to sit on my patio and listen to God. He soothed me with the melody the crickets, the chipper tunes of songbirds, the rush of a fresh breeze and his own voice saying “follow me.” I was more like the distant barking dog, angry at being tied up outside and God knows I still got it in me, I just keep it on a short leash.

As I see it now, he has given me an opportunity to love him, trust him, and follow him. He has forgiven my sins and restored my life. I had been a fighter all my life, now I need to show those in opposition Gods love and finish well.

How bout you… does your anger rule? What are your fueling it with?

Join me….on the patio, in Gods presence. Let HIM heal, forgive and restore so that we can love and finish well.

“Father, we lay down our anger to follow you. Thank you for knowing our hearts and forgiving our sins. In Jesus name amen.”