EMOTIONS

Father, thank You for feelings!
I don’t ever want my feelings
To be deadened by the current drug of choice.

When I get anxious,
You allow me to feel the full brunt of my emotions.
When You have brought me through the crisis unscathed,
You have taught me valuable lessons;
If I don’t feel ~ I can’t learn about myself
The vanity of thinking that I should be in control;
The futility of trying to do things my way;
The lack of trusting
When I don’t cast all my anxiety on you.

When I am angry
And I am allowed to truly feel my anger,
I learn to acknowledge that I make myself sick
With the change in body chemistry that anger triggers.
You teach me that I have options,
I could explode in anger,
I could repress my anger,
Or I could simply confess it to you and
You will direct my actions to do what is right.

When I am sad and grieving,
It is a good thing to feel the pain of the loss
And even give way to tears.
Lord, You have sent the tears to cleanse my eyes,
To give me a different perspective.
I learn to see Your loving hand
In all of my life’s circumstances,
In all of my emotional responses to them.

When I feel joy and love
My heart is a bubbling fountain that splashes on everyone.
My spirit is excited and cannot be contained.
My body is energized by Your very presence.
My hands are lifted up in adoration
My mouth sings praises to You!
My eyes mirror the sunshine of Your love.
My words are a hope and gratitude infusion to others.
My smile reveals the delight in Your gift.

Thank You for allowing me to have strong emotions
And teaching me to express them in the right measure,
At the right time, in the right way.

Karin Ristau ©