Dr. Kay's Blog – March 2010 Archive (4)

Resentment is the cocaine of the emotions. It causes our blood to pump and our energy levels to rise.

But, also like cocaine, it demands increasingly larger and more frequent dosages. There is a dangerous point at which anger ceases to be an emotion and becomes a driving force. A person bent on revenge moves unknowingly further and further away from being able to forgive, for to be without the anger is to be without a source of energy.

That explains why the bitter complain to anyone… Continue

PAIN



Perhaps the wound is old. A parent abused you. A teacher slighted you. A mate betrayed you. A business partner bailed out, leaving you a choice of bills and bankruptcy.

Are we angry.

Or perhaps the wound is fresh. The friend who owes us money just drove by in a new car. The boss who hired us with promises of promotions has forgotten how to pronounce our name. Our circle of friends escaped on a weekend getaway, and we weren't invited. The children we raised seem to have… Continue

WORRY



Worry is the burlap bag of burdens. It's overflowing with "whaddifs" and "howells." "Whaddif it rains at our wedding?" "Howell we know when to discipline our kids?" "Whaddif we marry a person who snores?" "Howell we pay our baby's tuition?" "Whaddif, after all our dieting, we learn that lettuce is fattening and chocolate isn't?"

The burlap bag of worry. Cumbersome. Chunky. Unattractive. Scratchy. Hard to get a handle on. Irritating to carry and impossible to give away. No… Continue

What a glorious day! The people are finally celebrating the completion of their dream...the rebuilding of the wall around Jersualem. Yet, upon hearing the reading of God's laws, the people are cut to the heart, grieved by their sin. Nehemiah tells the people to put away their mourning, "For the joy of the Lord is your strength." How could they have joy in the face of their guilt and sorrow? How could they experience joy even when they had neglected God's ways?

Let's bring this into our own… Continue