“Be angry, and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.” Ephesians 4:26-27

Pineapple Express

I’m not sure where the expression “pineapple express” came from, but it was an appropriate term one morning at my house, as I was quickly and expressly transported into the land of anger and frustration. Ever been there? It was early, oh so early, and I had yet to have my morning cup of perfectly brewed tea. Poor me.

As I prepared to boil the water, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Drip, drip, drip. The sound was coming from the walk-in pantry. Drip, drip.  What on earth could be dripping in there, I wondered. Everything’s dry in there, no water pipes, nothing. As I began to investigate the now incessant sound, I couldn’t believe my eyes.

“No! No! NO!” I hollered, as I realized sticky, yellowish pineapple juice had made its way out of a tin can, off of a shelf, and onto a plastic container on the floor. Drip, drip, drip!

The VERY old six-pack of metal cans my husband used to use to make marinade for chicken had finally expired with true gusto. Hmm, maybe this was his fault. Immediately, I looked around the kitchen, and there he was shrugging his shoulders, as if he could sense I might try to pin the blame on him. I realized then, that it really is human nature to look for someone else to blame for things. Look at Adam and Eve!

I finally came to my senses, as I started the two-hour cleanup. Did I mention that the can had been leaking for, say, months, as I discovered it had eaten its way into the shelf itself and molded? I was mad all right, but I realized I couldn’t shift this to anyone but myself. I should have realized pineapple juice was very acidic and capable of eating its way out of a can, in say, fourteen years. Yup, that’s how far past the expiration date it was. Wow.

Well, the Lord was so patient with me, as I steamed and huffed around the kitchen (without my perfectly brewed cup of tea). I know He understands that on this earth, we will get mad, mad as wet hens, as my mama used to say. But we are charged to give that anger over to the Lord, and “do not sin!”

I thought about what that sin might look like. Perhaps throwing the faulty cans around the kitchen? Or yelling at my husband? Both of those things would have felt sooo good, but irreparable damage could result. No, I had to pray. “Lord, I am so frustrated and angry, and I don’t even know why this hit me so hard this morning, but please forgive me for this overpowering feeling! I need Your peace! Help me not to do or say anything hurtful.”

It took awhile, but I eventually simmered down, thank the Lord! I don’t like that feeling of being out of control, but we all have a choice when, not if, it crops up—act like a bull in an arena seeing red, or calm acceptance and demeanor.

Dear Lord, I am so thankful for Your grace and understanding when we blow it. Anger itself isn’t the sin, but what we do with it can be. So please help us have self-control, not “give place to the devil,” and represent You well on this earth. Amen.