I saw this illustration the other day and I just had to laugh:
This is so me! In fact, I told Peter, “I totally need this on a bumper sticker.”
I really can jump to the absolute worst possible conclusion in any given scenario.
Like earlier this week when Alethea was refusing to eat and was complaining all day long that she was ‘So tired!’ And I start thinking, is it possible that my sweet little daughter is depressed? Or could it be something worse, like cancer? Worry, worry, worry.
Or like how I’ve been feeling so unintellectual lately. With my days consumed with diapers, meals and errands, it hardly seems possible that I actually have a B.A. in Philosophy. I feel that I could be becoming boring to my husband and unable to carry on a conversation about anything other than my children’s eating habits and personality quirks. I feel insignificant and wonder if others think I am too. Worry, worry, worry.
Last Sunday in church our pastor referenced the Fruit of the Spirit in passing during his sermon. It really was a good sermon about a whole other topic, but my mind wandered a bit at that point and I started doing a mental Fruit of the Spirit checklist. I gave myself a passing grade on a few, but that ‘joy, peace, patience’ combo really was convicting.
Today I gave it some further thought and here’s what I decided… Is all my worrying squashing my joy and stealing my peace? Most definitely. Is my lack of joy and peace resulting in a diminished capacity for patience with others, especially my children? Yes, I think it is.
Do I need an attitude adjustment? For sure!
“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7
Apparently I need a different bumper sticker: Anxiety Girl! Able to cast all her cares on Jesus in a single throw!
Seriously, how cheesy would that be!?!?
A better idea perhaps, being more deliberate about making sure other activities and commitments don’t crowd out my daily time of prayer and Bible reading. I always feel so off kilter when I’m not spending time learning and growing in my faith each day.
During this Christmas season, I am resolved that I will not let the business and the fun steal my time alone with God!
Too long for a bumper sticker, perhaps, but I think it’s just what this Anxiety Girl needs.
love the illustration, Elise! You’re not the only one to feel that way. Here’s a little story: I’m house-sitting currently, at a farm house. There is this little out building that i’ve never known what exactly it holds. The other night there was a mysterious light on inside. I very quickly convinced myself that there was obviously A) a vicious murderer inside just waiting for me to go to sleep and kill me with farm tools. B) a homeless person who would also kill me with farm tools and take over the house. The real answer? A timed light so the chickens would keep laying eggs in the “daylight”. Of course it’s a chicken coup… Anyhow. Moral of the story is, I hear you about the worry, and I think you’re solution is an excellent one!
Great story, Lindsay! I’m glad I’m not the only one who thinks like that. I totally would have freaked out too if I saw a mysterious light on in an out building! And one of the things about being a chronic worrier is that I know I am a chronic worrier, so I’m never confident enough that my worries are justified to actually do something about them (like call the police), so if a murder ever was lurking outside, I’d be toast! :-)