Colossians 3:8 - But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice,
blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (KJV)
I was young and a nominal Christian when I first saw a wonderful example of
Christianity, in moving pictures and living colour, regarding anger. I was
visiting my future mother-in-law, and she had spent many hours doing a snowy
white laundry, which was finally hung on the clothesline. The line was strung
over a vegetable garden of good black soil; the vegetables had been removed and
the soil prepared for the winter months. The weight of the laundry proved too
heavy for the line, and down it went into the black soil. I watched with horror
as the fall gently drew the laundry through the loose soil, which determinedly
clung to every article. I could feel my own anger rising within me. What would
happen next? Not a word was spoken. My dear future mother-in-law gave what I was
later to learn was her only display of annoyance, a soft tuneless whistle. The
laundry was washed again, and the incident was not even mentioned. I do not
think for one moment that this Christian lady would have considered this to be a
great example of Christian living. For me it was a whole new concept for living!
Some time later, I married the son of my Christian example, and we moved to
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to live. While attending an evangelical service, I
heard the wonderful plan of God's salvation, was converted, and literately "lost
my temper"! Shortly after my conversion, we decided to travel to Toronto for a
few days to visit my family. During one of the many conversations with my
mother, she said, "You appear to be different." I told my mother of my Christian
conversion.
In our daily lives, may God help each of us to follow the example set out by
Jesus Christ. After all, that is one picture that is worth a thousand words.
Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for the people You bring into our
lives to show us the way to Christian living. Thank You for Your great plan of
salvation, which enables us to find forgiveness for past sins and enables us to
live lives of value for the future. Help us to be examples in our world. We pray
in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Amen.
Vena Poole r-vpoole@csolve.net
Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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