| "It's OK to get angry in certain situations," says | | | | got real mad," adds Bryant, 10.For some |
| Nicole, age 9. "For example, when your baby | | | | imaginative color commentary on this incident, let's |
| sister sits on your new cowboy shirt."Being from | | | | go to Sarah, 9: "There were people crying, yelling |
| Texas, I understand. A new cowboy shirt is a | | | | and screaming to get their money. Birds were |
| precious thing -- new boots are even better."You | | | | flying everywhere. Clothes fell off racks."I've |
| have to get angry when somebody hits you so | | | | never seen a painting of Jesus driving the |
| you can hit him back harder," says Daniel, | | | | merchants out of the temple. The Apostle John |
| 5.Ouch!We smile at Daniel's honesty, but we all | | | | writes that he made a "whip of chords" and |
| have this monster called revenge living inside. Most | | | | drove them out. Somehow, this image seems out |
| of us don't hit with fists. We're too sophisticated | | | | of place with the typical, placid pictures in most |
| for that. Gossip and slander are often the | | | | storybook Bibles.Don't try to justify selfish anger |
| weapons of choice.If you have to punch | | | | by rationalizing it into righteous anger. John records |
| something, Daniel, take a tip from Chaz, 10: | | | | that when the disciples saw Jesus clearing the |
| "When I lose my temper, I beat up my pillow and | | | | temple, they remembered Psalm 69:9: "Zeal for |
| then pray."Punch and pray. This sounds like a | | | | your house has eaten me up."Jesus was |
| winning combination -- as long as you're punching a | | | | consumed with the reputation of his Father and |
| pillow and not someone's nose.Anger can make | | | | therefore his Father's house. Instead of a house |
| you do crazy things such as "losing your temper | | | | of prayer, the merchants had turned the temple |
| when someone is trying to be boss of your | | | | into a house of thieves, Jesus said. When we |
| football," says Cade, 5. Of course, some who get | | | | become angry, we're usually consumed with our |
| really angry about being boss of the football sign | | | | rights and reputation, not God's.Brent, 11, also |
| contracts worth millions and play for the | | | | approaches anger management in a biblical way |
| NFL.Anger can also make you "rip up a failing | | | | when he quotes James 1:19-20: "Let every man |
| paper before you get home and tell your mom | | | | be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; |
| you didn't get that test," says Chelsea, 9.As | | | | for the wrath of man does not produce the |
| every teacher knows, dogs have ravenous | | | | righteousness of God."Point to ponder: Jesus could |
| appetites for school papers, especially on the day | | | | have been angry over the injustice he suffered, |
| they are due.Lying about a failing paper or making | | | | but he forgave.Scripture to remember: "Do not let |
| up a dog story because you didn't do your | | | | the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians |
| homework could make your mom and your | | | | 4:26).Question to consider: Have you ever been |
| teacher justifiably angry.Anger is fine, says | | | | angry because someone blasphemed God's name |
| Brittani, 5: "Because when two friends get | | | | or character?Carey Kinsolving is a syndicated |
| together, it is hard to play good every minute." | | | | columnist, producer, author, speaker and website |
| Colton, 5, disagrees, "Even though this makes | | | | developer. To see Carey's Kid TV Interviews and |
| Jesus sad, some people just love to | | | | more, visit The Kids Talk About God website |
| fight."Sometimes, it's small things that anger us, | | | | contains free, online content for children and |
| says another Colton, 5: "My mom and dad get | | | | families. Print free lessons from the "Kids Color Me |
| angry when they can't decide what they want for | | | | Bible" and make your own book. Watch for free |
| dinner." Sounds like a recipe for indigestion.Landon, | | | | the adventures of an 11-year-old girl traveling |
| 11, and others provide us with digestive aids by | | | | around the world, visiting missionaries in the |
| giving us tips on when it is and isn't wrong to be | | | | Mission Explorers Streaming Video. Print Bible |
| angry. "It is not wrong to get angry as long as it | | | | pictures drawn by kids that illustrate Scripture |
| is righteous anger."Righteous anger? "Jesus got | | | | verses. Receive a complimentary, weekly e-mail |
| angry when people used the temple as a trading | | | | subscription to our Devotional Bible Lessons. Bible |
| post," says Courtney, 10. "He knocked over | | | | quotations in this column are from the New King |
| tables, threw everything on the floor. I mean he | | | | James Version. |