In a recent article titled Hurting Hearts, Max Lucado stated, "I know what it takes to store something up. My grandmother used to store up canned vegetables and preserves. She had an underground cellar in her back yard. After harvesting her garden, she would go to work in the kitchen. Hours and hours would be spent in front of a huge pot, cooking and stirring, cooking and stirring. At just the right time, she would fill the Mason jars and seal them with a rubberized lid. Down into the cellar they would go".

Friend, when you think about what Max said, it seems like each of us have a tendency to do the same with hurts? A pain comes into our world, but rather than deal with it quickly, we keep it around. We slice it and dice it and let it stew. We stir it and cook it and stir it and cook it. And just when we get up a good head of steam, we take the emotion and bottle it up and store it away down deep in the cellar of our hearts.

Do you ever wonder why some people are so negative? You would be too if you stored away every hurt you've ever received. Do you ever wonder why some people are so prejudiced? You would be, too, if you catalogued your pain according to gender or accent or skin colour. Do you ever wonder why some people are so sour of disposition? You would be, better stated, you will be too, if you spend your time harvesting your hurts and storing them away.

Jesus said, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34).

Do you want to know why some mouths are so mean? It is often because their hearts are so full of hurt.

However, it doesn't have to be that way. We can choose what enters our hearts. Rather than store up, we can "fill up". Jesus' apostle Paul said it this way: Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious - the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse ( Philippians 4:8 MSG).

Friend, rather than store up the sour, store up the sweet. It is true, that you and I cannot avoid getting hurt. But we can avoid letting our hurts hurt us.

So let me ask you some questions, are you harbouring some hurts? Are you letting some wounds fester? Do you find yourself touchy and irritable? Is the cellar of your heart full of stored up anger? Is your storehouse of anger doing you any good? Are you happier? Better? More fun to be with?

Friend, does God want you to be angry? Of course not! Didn't He tell us, "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice"? (Ephesians 4:31). He knows the damage your anger can do and He does not want you to be angry.

Can God help you get rid of your anger? Well, He made galaxies man has never seen and dug canyons we have yet to find. Don't you think He could heal your bitter heart? "The Lord heals all your diseases" (Psalms 103:3). Do you think among those diseases might be the affliction of anger? Do you think God could heal your anger?

Do you want Him to? This is not a trick question. He asks you the same question that He asked of the invalid, "Do you want to be well?" (John 5:6). Not everyone does. You may be addicted to anger. You may be a bitterness-junky. Your anger may be part of your identity. But if you want Him to, He can change your identity. He wants to clean out your cellar and replace it with the fruits of His love. Do you want Him to do so?

Then, one final question: Why don't you ask Him? Pray something like this: "Father, I am angry. My heart was hurt by ____. Would you take away this pain? I can't do it without you. Please help me to choose the way of life, to choose the way of love, to choose the way of caring, to choose the way of hope, to choose the way of belief in tomorrow, to choose the way of trusting, to choose the way of goodness". It's up to you! It's your choice!

Friend, next time hurts surface in your memory, go quickly into God's presence. Think of Him until the anger passes. In time, and it may take time, the infection will heal and the wound will close.

Friend, perhaps, even as you are reading what I have shared with you today, you are facing some serious problems in your life. Perhaps they are big ones, which are causing you to feel hostile and angry! Well, we do care about you and we want to provide you with help by offering a FREE pamphlet which may be of some value in helping you find solutions. This pamphlet is titled "Overcoming HOSTILITY." To receive your copy, along with a complimentary booklet "How to Handle TROUBLE," write to Discovering A BETTER LIFE, P.O. Box 1540, Albany WA 6331, Telephone: (08) 9841 8418 or email us at: abl-alb@omninet.net.au