Colossians 3:8 – But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. (KJV)

I was young and a nominal Christian when I first saw a wonderful example of Christianity, in moving pictures and living colour, regarding anger. I was visiting my future mother-in-law, and she had spent many hours doing a snowy white laundry, which was finally hung on the clothesline. The line was strung over a vegetable garden of good black soil; the vegetables had been removed and the soil prepared for the winter months. The weight of the laundry proved too heavy for the line, and down it went into the black soil. I watched with horror as the fall gently drew the laundry through the loose soil, which determinedly clung to every article. I could feel my own anger rising within me. What would happen next? Not a word was spoken. My dear future mother-in-law gave what I was later to learn was her only display of annoyance, a soft tuneless whistle. The laundry was washed again, and the incident was not even mentioned. I do not think for one moment that this Christian lady would have considered this to be a great example of Christian living. For me it was a whole new concept for living!

Some time later, I married the son of my Christian example, and we moved to Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to live. While attending an evangelical service, I heard the wonderful plan of God's salvation, was converted, and literately "lost my temper"! Shortly after my conversion, we decided to travel to Toronto for a few days to visit my family. During one of the many conversations with my mother, she said, "You appear to be different." I told my mother of my Christian conversion.

In our daily lives, may God help each of us to follow the example set out by Jesus Christ. After all, that is one picture that is worth a thousand words.

Prayer: Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for the people You bring into our lives to show us the way to Christian living. Thank You for Your great plan of salvation, which enables us to find forgiveness for past sins and enables us to live lives of value for the future. Help us to be examples in our world. We pray in the name of Jesus, Your Son. Amen.

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