Worry

Matthew 6:34 (NIV) says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

This is a verse that speaks volumes to me. I have been a worrier since I was a child and I get it honest. My mom is a worrier too, and I think I partly picked it up from her, but some of it is just one of my struggles in life. Last night my husband and I were talking about sin. Specifically how we are all born with an innate sin that we will struggle with. Some may seem worse than others (i.e. murder vs gossiping), but they are still sins and they hurt God. Sure, the consequences of these sins very, but they should still be avoided.

We all have many struggles, but today I'm going to focus on the one that I'm struggling with right this very instant - worry. Tomorrow morning, I am leaving my small island in Alaska to travel to my hometown of Pace, Florida (just outside Pensacola). Not only will I be traveling for nearly 20 hours (also gaining 4143 air miles apiece - yay Alaska Air), I will doing so with two children by myself. My last layover (in ATL) is only 45 minutes and I may have to switch terminals. I have my BOB ready and will just throw the kids in there (who will likely be tired and cranky considering we are on a red eye and will arrive in ATL at 6:40 in the morning) and run, but I'm still a bit anxious.

This is the first time I'm traveling by myself with the kids. Not only that, I'm going to be away from home for nearly 6 weeks. I'm SO excited to see my family, but it's getting there that I'm concerned about. I'm trying not to live in the "what if's", but it's really hard for me.

I awoke at 3 a.m. and pretty much just laid there tossed and turned for an hour and a half before I finally gave up to come downstairs. My poor husband was probably relieved when I finally did that, but he was gracious and kept trying to relax me by telling me everything would be okay and rubbing my neck (which is killing me). I have the pre-vacation stress headache and insomnia. This happens quite often for me before a big trip, but it usually doesn't happen until the night before I leave. I've still got one more night.

Anyway....back to the point of the post. Worry is something that is a constant struggle for me. I know that God is in control and that everything will be great, but it is also in my nature to like to have control - shocker, right? All of you that know me....stop snickering....I hear you! If we miss our flight, it really isn't a big deal, there is another that leave a couple hours later that I'm sure we could get on. But that's just it....there isn't a reason to worry and yet I do.

If you could all pray for me, I would greatly appreciate it. Not only that I will let go and let God, but that I won't kill the kids on the trip. *snort*

God, you sent your son to live as an example of how we should live and to die for our sins, so that we can spend eternity with you. Thank you for that and thank you, Jesus for your immense love for us that you were willing to suffer on the cross for me. Little ole me! Help me with my sin of worry. Remind me that You have everything under control. Place others in my life that will remind me to let go and let God. And may I meet the kindness of strangers while on my journey. Thank you for your son and I am so sorry for my constant sin that held him to the cross. Amen.

Here is another look at the same passage above. Here it is from The Message:

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.

Works for Me Wednesday

I wasn't sure that I would have much to contribute to the Works for Me Wednesday bloggy goodness (from We are THAT Family) I got to thinking about what would I say is something that works for me?

Just then, my son (bless his almost 2 year old heart) got frustrated and threw one of his cars, right into my favorite green wall and chipped some of the paint. Great....I know what I'll be doing during nap time now. Luckily it will only take a minute...literally....to fix.

Years ago, there was a magazine called Budget Living (which I love and dearly miss - I still have all my copies and still look at them), and one of the tips listed in there said to take baby food jars and keep a small amount of paint in them, with a small paint brush to do touch ups when it is needed. This is one of the best things I have ever learned and has saved me a lot of anxiety and frustration. I used to have to find the right paint can in the garage (if I could find it) and hope that the paint was still good, then find a paint brush, then drag it all in, yadda yadda yadda. NOW, I just grab the jar from under my sink and the small brush attached to it, swipe on the paint, wash the brush and put it all back under the sink.

By the way, my son and I had a small chitchat about how God wants us to handle our frustration and how throwing our toys is not the best way to do this. So, anyone got any tips on how to get a 2 year old to understand that?