October 6th is a day set aside each year to bring out your silly side while celebrating National Mad Hatter Day. The fictional character, The Hatter (also known as The Mad Hatter) from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, is typically acting silly, and that is how the creators of this day decided on their theme of silliness for National Mad Hatter Day. Sir John Tenniel illustrated The Mad Hatter and all of Lewis Carroll’s colorful characters beginning in 1864. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was first published in 1865. via:   https://nationaldaycalendar.com/national-mad-hatter-day-october-6/ https://youtu.be/NLAvWkdEles  Ephesians 4:31 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”  I want us to talk about bitterness for a bit. I have a little demonstration I would like to show you. (Do we do this outside or inside? Do we talk about how since there is a break in the rain, we can do it outside?  I have some rocks that represent grudges. This big one, someone has something you have been wanting for years. This medium one, people seem to walk all over you while others get praised. This little one, someone said something to you that really ticked you off. (Keep filling the bowl with rocks) Now, this water, represents kindness and love. (Pour it over the rocks) Do you see how there isn’t much room for it now because we have all these rocks in here, aka, grudges? Let’s take some out. Oh, look, there is more room now. Keep going. Look, there are no grudges now, look how much love and kindness can be done now. (Now we go back inside) Being bitter doesn’t help anyone. It doesn’t help you and it doesn’t help the person you are bitter towards. It is more taxing on your mental state than anything else, I think. This is not the character of God. It really does take more energy to be jealous and mean than it does to be kind and gentle. Let’s look at Eph 4:2, “Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. 3. Make every effort to keep yourselves united in the Spirit, binding yourselves together with peace.” And now let’s fast forward to 4:24 , “Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy.” When we start moving towards stronger discipline of ourselves, we can start putting on a new self, drenched in the Spirit of the Lord. And finally, let’s end with 5:2 “Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.” As you can see, it is better to live a life filled with love than of jealousy. It can be very difficult for some though. What can you do to help yourself? Thank you.

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