I saw a post the other day on Facebook. I don’t remember by whom, but all I saw was, “Lessons from a Christmas tree.” I chose to read no further, for the title alone sparked all sorts of ideas for blog articles. So far, I’m at 5 posts and I think I’m done writing them. But who knows? They’ll be spread throughout this month. Please chime in with your own thoughts! And here are the links for Lesson 1, Lesson 2, and Lesson 3.
Lesson 4
Sometimes Needles Drop
I lost my temper the other day. I did, though I hate to admit it. I don’t get angry very often. Miffed, yes – like the annoyance you might feel at a driver that cuts you off on the freeway.
“Oh, so sorry, King Bob. I didn’t realize that my poor self was in the way of your awesomeness. By all means, express yourself in your reckless speed and pay no attention to us peasants.” (A typical rant followed by a prayer requesting protection for the idiot behind the wheel as well as those he had yet to encounter, and a nearby policemen.)
If I get REALLY mad, I grab my keys and go on a road trip, letting the Lord know all of the mean things that someone had done/said to me. But my truest defense mechanism isn’t flight, it’s absence. I need the problem to go away and let me shake out the emotions so I can then deal with the issue reasonably. Instead of reacting with my hurt feelings.
So was true the other day when one of my dinky twinks lashed out at me. She was having a rough day and her attack wasn’t as much toward me as it was toward all that had happened to her. You know how it is. Life+Straw=Broken back. But all I could do to react was growl and tell her to walk away.
I needed shake time. A short period to let my anger subside, so I wouldn’t perpetuate the problem or say anything that might hurt my daughter.
You can see shake-time all over nature. Trees lose their leaves, dogs shed, our own skin cells fall away and are regenerated constantly. It’s part of healthy living.
And shaking out raw emotions, just like the tree drops dead needles, is important for emotional survival. “In your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27. Wow. Those raw emotions, those dead needles, if left undropped will give the devil a foothold into your mind and heart.
Quite a lesson from a little Christmas tree.
Your Turn: What is your usual reaction when you get angry?
The next lesson will be HERE when it posts.
Marji Laine 