Anger, A True Star!
(Thank you, mother, for giving me such a comfort with this emotion—you made it safe to explore, express, and steward— spunk queen 👸🏼 ).
***For those of us who have been hurt by an experience with anger, I grieve for/with you. This is not about the havoc-wreaking mismanagement that is sadly all too common.
Anger, A True Star!
Watching anger wreak havoc—well, that’s the obvious way of speaking of our dear. I offer you another vantage point…
What we’ve underexpressed is a kind of honor for the complexity of anger—for being a real star of the show!
-She’s the edge that dances with your sense of humor.
-She’s the twirl that leads self-respect off the dance floor to find a better partner.
-She’s the flirt that says, “You’re funny but stay the hell away from my face!”
-She’s the compelling motion to MOVE when it’s time to move.
-She’s the motivation that gets you off your bed to start that project.
-She’s the confrontation that retorts, “You aren’t allowed to treat me like that.”
-She’s the self-protection when you’re walking on a dark street at night–ready to say: “In Jesus name—get back from me!”
-She fancifies wit to beat them to the punch!
-She’s the competition that always wins the game, race, or sport…always (or she’ll go ahead and burn for you when you don’t).
-She’s the one that reminds you to get off your butt and clean when your favorite humans are coming over.
-She’s the prayer you pray when righteousness tells you something’s amiss.
-She’s the tongue that you manage to hold when employing self-control in the presence of a real jerk.
-She’s the self-respect that contains you, promotes you, or propels you toward the things meant for you.
Anger, you’re such a good, edgy emotion. We miss you when you are gone. Thank you for partnering so well with so many other delightful things. How sad we’ve minimized you to simple, solitary rage!
Wield her well, y’all!
*We’re truly sorry for times when she’s taken over completely.
**Give yourself love for any way she has spilled over onto you when she’s not stewarded well by others.
***I pray that releasing those moments brings a balm to your soul. “It’s for freedom that Christ has set us free” (Galatians 5:1).
