If Easily Angered, Nothing

If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
Love is not easily angered. (I Corinthians 13:3,5)

Dear Jesus,

You showed us when anger is appropriate and when it is not. You were angered by the arrogant and those who oppressed others. But you were never angry when someone attacked you nor were you even angry when people attempted to interfere with your work. Your servant Paul tells us that if we are a hot head, if we get angry when things don't go our way, or when we are slighted or frustrated, it negates all of the good work we might do. You are not honored.

Help these children to control their anger. Give them the ability to sense when they are becoming angry and place within them a desire to dial back their response and give them the discipline to turn the dial. Give them discernment to know when it is, in fact, appropriate to have holy anger: when people are being oppressed or mistreated by those in power or those with greater physical strength. In those circumstances, give them the passion to become angry, the courage to act on their anger and the wisdom to know the most effective and appropriate response.

Amen