Hungry, Hungry Hippo

For some reason that title seemed to fit this thought and this picture was right on! I watched 20/20 tonight (yes, you are jealous of my exciting Friday night) because Paul's back went out and he was snoring by 9:00 (to be honest, he doesn't really snore, but he was asleep)! So, I had nothing to do (another lie... I had nothing I wanted to do more than "veg" in front of the t.v.) and there was 20/20. The show was on Anger. Now, I am the first one to think nasty thoughts when I get cut-off, or wish big ugly warts to fall on the woman who gives me dirty looks for bringing 3 kids to well, anywhere! But I was reminded of a lesson I learned in college. "The Savior", so I was told by a professor, "never acted in anger." The more children I have and the more dry-clean only clothes I buy, the harder it is to wrap my head around that concept. But tonight on 20/20, psychologists, studies, etc. all said that anger is unhealthy for you physically, mentally, spiritually- in every way. They said that you should neither vent, nor bottle it up... you avoid it (which Christ had clearly mastered). Thanks to the Christ-Centered Parenting book I have read and need to re-read, I finally feel I have real tools that keep me from being a hungry, hungry hippo of anger (think of the visual above- we're cousins). Really though, I am grateful for time, because it doesn't always have to be filled (not by action, especially not by reaction). Most of my time these days are spent standing in the middle of a room, weighing the costs of my next action. And by the time I have made a decision, the spaghetti has hardened and is easier to clean up, I have realized the markers are washable, or I find two small arms hugging my leg to say sorry! I am never so grateful for not acting than at that moment and nothing is of more worth than that!