“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:31-32).

 Jeanette was a bitter old woman. I know that sounds quite harsh, but that indeed is putting it mildly. She had a tremendous memory and could name every person that had offended her for the last fifty-three years. These offenses ranged from simple little things that probably people didn’t even realize were offensive to her up to and including the great hurt that she suffered the day her husband walked out of her life and insisted on a divorce. Jeanette clung to every one of these offenses, and it led her down a very lonely, bitter, and angry road. Pulling the curtain back from her dining room window, she looked across the yard and saw the moving van arriving at the empty house next door. Little did Jeanette know that God was going to do something quite unexpected. The Pattersons were moving in, and life would never be the same. Wait until you see what happens tomorrow!

 For today: If I carry anger around with me, it will lead me down a very bitter path. That’s why the apostle Paul said to put it away!