“Don’t let anger
defeat you.” ~ Ephesians 4:26-28
Elyssa was angry . . . and for
good reason. Her husband Cristian was
serving time in prison for murder. He
claimed it was self-defense. She knew he
wasn’t capable of such a heinous act; violence would never have been his
option. But the jury said otherwise. L
“Loneliness is the worst part,” Elyssa said to her friend Nina
after taking an unsteady sip of hot coffee. She’d
never had to deal with anything like this.
“I’m tired of packing the kids into the car every Sunday and
driving ninety miles to the prison just to visit Cristian for an hour. I’m thinking about visiting once a month
instead; it’s just too much stress on us all.”
“Honey, I don’t know how you do it,” Nina nodded
reassuringly.
Softly, Nina tried to console her. “You’re carrying so much anger; you’ve got to
let it go!”
“What did you suggest I do, pretend I’m not mad?”
“Try this. Make a
list of the things that make you sad or angry.
When you finish your list, put it in an old shoebox and bury it in the
backyard.” She walked over to the kitchen
sink, peering out past the huge maple.
“I see the perfect burial spot.”
“How’s that going to help? Will the Parole Board release Cristian
early? Will that pay my bills, or return
by life to normal again?
“No, but every time you feel miserable, look out at the dirt
mound atop the box of pain, and say a little prayer.”
Elyssa didn’t believe that such a simple act would help, but
she had nothing to lose. She hoped it
might somehow relieve the tension her anger caused. So she buried her box.
Spring came early - buds formed on rose bushes and leaves blanketed
the branches. It’d been five weeks since
Elyssa visited Cristian; despair had further sapped her spirit.
One morning Elyssa starred out her window. On the tiny mound where she’d buried her
troubles, she spotted a white lily swaying in the gentle breeze. Greek legend says that white lilies symbolize
innocence. On the tomb of those
convicted of a crime they didn’t commit, a white lily grows without being
planted.
Her eyes sparkled; a blissful smile warmed her soul. Today might be a good day to gather the kids
and visit Cristian.
Please God, bring Your Peace to my heart. Help me heal from these things that cause me
pain, and help me forgive all those who hurt me. Let me dwell on the good, peaceful and remarkable
blessings in my life. Elyssa
