Chotard Doll

Dear Friends, 

When I was a child, it became apparent that I had inherited my father’s propensity for anger. Having a very eloquent sister three years my senior gave me ample opportunity to demonstrate this.

At one time in my growing-up years, I was sent to my room as punishment for losing my temper. While I was sulking in my room, my father came and sat down beside me. He  talked to me about his own anger and how he had to work to control it. He quoted this passage from Ephesians appointed for this morning:

Be angry, but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not make room for the devil. (Ephesians 4:26-27)

Although I still have to struggle to keep my anger from blocking out rational thought, I am deeply grateful for that visit with my father. The fact that I knew he had struggled and (for the most part) won that battle, was a bonding which helped me follow suit. And it also fostered a lively sense of how to fight against the devil.

How often the Scripture gives us the tools we need to manage our lives. Perhaps you have passages that you use as guidelines as you live out your Christian life?

Faithfully, 

—Chotard