Bitterness Makes You Ugly!

My mother once said, "Bitterness makes you ugly." She's so right. No matter how 'lovely' a person may be on the outside, if they're bitter and angry on the inside, the outside somehow has an ugliness to it that's hard to explain. Last night and this morning I was covered in a blanket of bitterness. I felt short-changed, ripped off, unfairly treated. And when I looked in the mirror today, an ugly face stared back at me. I knew I had to toss off that bitter blanket and instead, cover myself with grace and forgiveness and love. The fruits of the spirit ran through my mind: Galations 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, kindness, self-control." I plucked these fruits from the tree of life and placed them in a basket. I will carry this basket around with me and nourish my body with their sweetness. When I feel the urge to be bitter, I will eat the fruit of patience & kindness. When I feel hope vanishing, I will eat the fruit of faith. When I feel the tears welling and the lip quiver, I will eat the fruit of joy. And when the storm clouds build and darkness falls and fear presses in on all sides, I will eat the fruit of peace.