| "It's OK to get angry in certain situations," says | | | | Landon, 11, and others provide us with digestive |
| Nicole, age 9. "For example, when your baby | | | | aids by giving us tips on when it is and isn't wrong |
| sister sits on your new cowboy shirt." | | | | to be angry. "It is not wrong to get angry as long |
| Being from Texas, I understand. A new cowboy | | | | as it is righteous anger." |
| shirt is a precious thing -- new boots are even | | | | Righteous anger? "Jesus got angry when people |
| better. | | | | used the temple as a trading post," says |
| "You have to get angry when somebody hits you | | | | Courtney, 10. "He knocked over tables, threw |
| so you can hit him back harder," says Daniel, 5. | | | | everything on the floor. I mean he got real mad," |
| Ouch! | | | | adds Bryant, 10. |
| We smile at Daniel's honesty, but we all have this | | | | For some imaginative color commentary on this |
| monster called revenge living inside. Most of us | | | | incident, let's go to Sarah, 9: "There were people |
| don't hit with fists. We're too sophisticated for | | | | crying, yelling and screaming to get their money. |
| that. Gossip and slander are often the weapons | | | | Birds were flying everywhere. Clothes fell off |
| of choice. | | | | racks." |
| If you have to punch something, Daniel, take a tip | | | | I've never seen a painting of Jesus driving the |
| from Chaz, 10: "When I lose my temper, I beat | | | | merchants out of the temple. The Apostle John |
| up my pillow and then pray." | | | | writes that he made a "whip of chords" and |
| Punch and pray. This sounds like a winning | | | | drove them out. Somehow, this image seems out |
| combination -- as long as you're punching a pillow | | | | of place with the typical, placid pictures in most |
| and not someone's nose. | | | | storybook Bibles. |
| Anger can make you do crazy things such as | | | | Don't try to justify selfish anger by rationalizing it |
| "losing your temper when someone is trying to be | | | | into righteous anger. John records that when the |
| boss of your football," says Cade, 5. Of course, | | | | disciples saw Jesus clearing the temple, they |
| some who get really angry about being boss of | | | | remembered Psalm 69:9: "Zeal for your house has |
| the football sign contracts worth millions and play | | | | eaten me up." |
| for the NFL. | | | | Jesus was consumed with the reputation of his |
| Anger can also make you "rip up a failing paper | | | | Father and therefore his Father's house. Instead |
| before you get home and tell your mom you | | | | of a house of prayer, the merchants had turned |
| didn't get that test," says Chelsea, 9. | | | | the temple into a house of thieves, Jesus said. |
| As every teacher knows, dogs have ravenous | | | | When we become angry, we're usually consumed |
| appetites for school papers, especially on the day | | | | with our rights and reputation, not God's. |
| they are due. | | | | Brent, 11, also approaches anger management in a |
| Lying about a failing paper or making up a dog | | | | biblical way when he quotes James 1:19-20: "Let |
| story because you didn't do your homework | | | | every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow |
| could make your mom and your teacher | | | | to anger; for the wrath of man does not produce |
| justifiably angry. | | | | the righteousness of God." |
| Anger is fine, says Brittani, 5: "Because when two | | | | Point to ponder: Jesus could have been angry |
| friends get together, it is hard to play good every | | | | over the injustice he suffered, but he forgave. |
| minute." Colton, 5, disagrees, "Even though this | | | | Scripture to remember: "Do not let the sun go |
| makes Jesus sad, some people just love to fight." | | | | down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). |
| Sometimes, it's small things that anger us, says | | | | Question to consider: Have you ever been angry |
| another Colton, 5: "My mom and dad get angry | | | | because someone blasphemed God's name or |
| when they can't decide what they want for | | | | character? |
| dinner." Sounds like a recipe for indigestion. | | | | |