YOUR EMOTIONS BOOMERANG; SO HANDLE WITH CARE

Emotions are frequent companions in our lives. They come and go, changing like the weather: sometimes sunny, other times rainy, sometimes stormy and thunderous, other times mild and pleasant.   All human emotions can be classified as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. All other emotions are variants of these basic emotions.

We have to learn to control our emotions, especially those emotions that harm us, for; it boomerangs on us and destroys us. It has a lasting impact – not only on others but on us as well. Emotional outbursts hurt others and us – in fact more than it hurts others, it hurts us. Hence be careful with our emotions.

Upsetting emotions make us utter words that hurt others. It is better not to speak when we are upset. When we are not able to escape from using harsh words; try to use the least possible. We have to learn to control our tongue. That is why St. James in the Bible cautions us: “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell” (James:3: 3-6).

May I repeat a story from an earlier post: While a man was polishing his new car, his 6 year old son picked up a stone and scratched lines on the side of the car. In anger, the man took the child's hand and hit it many times; not realizing he was using a wrench. At the hospital, the child’s fingers were to be amputated due to multiple fractures which were beyond saving. When the child saw his father; with painful eyes he asked, “Dad when will my fingers grow back?” The man was so hurt and speechless; he went back to his car and kicked it a lot of times. Devastated by his own actions, sitting in front of that car he looked at the scratches; the child had written 'LOVE YOU DAD'. The next day that man committed suicide…. If only he had anticipated the result of his rash action…! Patience and forgiving mind would have impelled him to pardon his child and it would have saved his own son’s fingers. I know a father who had pulled his son from the bed so forcefully that the head hit the floor and the son had brain damage. As a result the child is epileptic.  The father lives with guilt that haunts him always!