Even Jesus Overturned Tables….

When we last spoke, we were discussing the emotional roller coaster my wife and I were on and how sad we both were. Another emotion that no one talks about during these traumatic moments is anger.

We were angry.

The frustration and anger over having to deal with this injury continued to grow. With every painful bandage change, wound packing, visit to the wound clinic, wound debridement, limp to the bathroom, complicated showering routine, and even the simple task of getting a glass of water, we became increasingly angry.

One evening, I knew my wife needed an outlet for those emotions. As a caregiver, it is important to recognize what your partner needs and give them the opportunity to express themselves, even when it means putting your own needs aside for the moment. What I mean is that I was able to leave the house every day, which gave me opportunities to talk through my frustrations with friends and family. My wife, on the other hand, rarely left the house. She couldn't go to the bathroom or even get a snack without help, so she needed a way to release all of that emotion.

To give her that opportunity, I did something stupid. I pushed a couple of buttons until she finally got upset with me. She yelled, pushed over her walker, and I think even knocked a few things onto the floor. She was furious—but she got it out. Then she began to cry.

We just sat there together, and I let her cry. She needed that moment.

It reminded me of the Kevin Hart movie in which he helped a man in a wheelchair release his frustration by breaking things. Sometimes people need help expressing emotions when they can't do it themselves.

What I need you to know is that it is okay to be angry. Anger is just an emotion, and we need to express our emotions in order to process them. My wife is the nicest, sweetest woman, and anyone who has met her knows that. But in that moment, she was angry. She was sad. And that was okay.

Even Jesus overturned the tables when He was angry (Matthew 21:12–13). Anger doesn't make us bad people; it makes us human.

What I didn't know at the time was how much I would eventually need to express that same emotion. I wouldn't feel it until much later, and unfortunately, I didn't deal with it in a healthy way. That is part of being lost and not turning to the Father when you need Him—we make poor decisions.

So, until we talk again, remember that we all experience emotions: sadness, anger, jealousy, anxiety, and more. Turn to Him and ask for help, or turn to those who love you. Don't try to carry it all alone.

Talk again soon....