When I feel angry
What happens to a tree when the sun is too hot?
Sometimes its leaves start to burn and fall off!
And what happens when strong winds blow?
They can snap a tree in two! (Look at pages 8 and 9.)
How can a tree protect itself?
It can’t tell a cloud to cover the sun! And it can’t tell the wind to stop blowing!
But it can grow strong, deep roots. These roots reach the water and help the tree stand firm!
What do people do to protect themselves?
When things go wrong, getting angry is one way we try to cope.
Everyone should be quick to listen.
But they should be slow to speak.
They should be slow to get angry.
Human anger doesn’t produce the holy life God wants.
James 1:19–20
Do you know that even Jesus got angry?
Feeling angry is important.
It is a warning that tells you something is wrong.
But does that mean when you are angry it is okay to hurt yourself? Or someone else? Or that you can break things?
Everyone feels angry sometimes
It was springtime in Palestine and there were lots of people in Jerusalem. Jews came from all over to celebrate the Passover feast at the temple.
A few days before the feast, Jesus went to the temple. The temple had some outside open spaces, called courtyards.
People were buying and selling animals to sacrifice to God in one of the courtyards. Jesus became very angry when he saw this. God’s temple wasn’t for selling things!
Jesus turned over their tables. He chased the people selling things and their animals out of the temple. He told them that the Bible says the temple must be a place where people from all nations pray to God.
Jesus felt angry. But did it make him hurt himself or anyone else? No, Jesus was careful in how he showed that he was angry.
Star breathing
Have you ever felt as angry as Jesus did at the temple?
Have you ever hurt anyone because you were angry?
Have you ever hurt yourself?
Remember, you keep your feelings in your body.
So when you get angry, you first need to try to calm your body down.
How do you do that?
Stop and take some deep breaths.
Then try this star breathing exercise.
- Hold up your left hand and spread your fingers out like a star.
- Pretend the pointing finger of your right hand is a pen. You are going to draw along the outside of your star hand as you breathe.
- Take a deep breath in (through your nose) to the count of 3. As you do, move your finger up the side of your little finger. Hold for a moment.
- Slowly breathe out (through your mouth) to the count of 5. As you breathe out, move your finger down the other side of your little finger. Hold for a moment.
- Do this for all 5 of your fingers.
- Did you draw your whole star hand? How does your body feel? Are you relaxed?
- Still not calm? Change hands.
- Make a star with your right hand. Draw along the outside of this hand with your left pointing finger.
God understands when you feel angry.
Dear God
Help me when I am feeling angry.
Help me to understand what is happening in my body.
When I get angry, help me not to hurt myself or others.
Amen