Frequent Bouts of Uncontrolled Anger towards the Offender
Abigayeli, a Manager in a renowned bank, woke up one morning only to find that her housemaid Namirembe had packed, announcing that she (housemaid) had to depart for the ‘village’ immediately. “Auntie called to inform me that Mama has been diagnosed with a long-term illness”, she asserted with slight arrogance. The girl made it clear that she had no plans to return to the city since her mother’s condition was chronic. As Abigayeli handed Namirembe her salary; she (Abigayeli) wondered what to do. Being a single career mother with hyperactive toddlers, life without a housemaid would be unmanageable. A fortnight later, Abigayeli was shocked to learn from reliable sources, that her secretary Susan had offered Namirembe a better paying job; and that the whole story about a chronically sick mother had been a hoax. “From that day forth, I became ‘sick and tired’ of Susan” she confesses. Abigayeli describes how loud, angry retorts had become the order of the day even when the secretary would make a small error; and how she (Abigayeli) would literally ‘drag her feet’ whenever the secretary needed assistance. “However, one day, it occurred to me that my noticeable resentment for Susan was sending a message to the rest of my employees, that I lacked self-control”, she admits. “As a manager, I ought to have been the first to remember that we do not wipe out offences by offending our offenders”, she adds.
At this juncture, I noticed that Birungi was somewhat overwhelmed. “Joy”, she said quizzically; “would you be shocked to know that I am actually experiencing most of the symptoms you just outlined?” she asked admittedly. How about you? Perhaps, just like Birungi, similar questions are daunting your mind. Could it be that you, also, are harbouring that much bitterness unawares? The good news is, unforgiveness and bitterness can be prevented, as Birungi soon found out.