What is it? What should it look like?
I was driving back to my house from playing tennis this morning and I was thinking about emotions and how they work. For me I often do not show negative emotions except for anger, on occasion. Otherwise, I generally am a positive guy. I don’t get too down, don’t moan too much about pain, and don’t let much ruffle my feathers. I do smile a lot and love to make other people smile.
I also tend to discourage my kids from showing negative emotions. I don’t want them to cry. I don’t like it when they complain. I tend to suggest that they shouldn’t display any hurt.
I think I am that way in part because that is what I was taught, but I also think I get a bit confused about what it means to have the joy of the Lord. And therein lies my question and the point of this post. What is emotional honesty? Given what we can see as godly examples all through the bible I don’t think Christians have to be all smiles all the time. I also think that when we try to put on a happy face when we don’t have a happy heart it may be a false witness, to others and to God. I believe He wants us to be honest with Him – brutally so.
Look at Jeremiah.
Meditate on David’s singing, railing about his enemies having success.
How bold Habakkuk seems yelling at God.
And everyone who has an anger problem loves to point to Jesus’ row with the temple’s moneychangers.
The more I see the impact of my quickness to quiet my children’s emotions the more I wonder if I’m doing the right thing. What do you think? I’m interested in your opinion and in any scripture you might have to address these types of questions.
