Anger Management 101

Cruel words in my ears explode,
Turning off my brain's nice mode.
Payback, now my first response;
Revenge will be served hot at once!

Bitter words like cement sink in,
Hardened in my heart again.
As arrows seek their own venue,
Fresh wounding cuts a swath anew.

Its barbs stuck fast inside my soul,
Allowed the tempter to control.
In rage my hateful bolts took flight,
Gods love eclipsed by selfish night.

But I know the cursing on my breath,
Is the reason of my Savior's death.
For in those mournful, sunken eyes,
His love embraced my bitter cries.

The angry words that shattered me,
Break on the cross I love so dearly.
No more will I be slain by fear;
This curse stops right now, right here.

Freed from hatred and the shame,
God's grace snuffed out sin's evil flame.
He gave His life to set me free,
Forgiveness is alive in me!

This poem was a finalist in the June 2012 poetry contest