April 27, 2020
My grandmother used to say, “I am worried sick about that!”. I’m not sure if that’s a southern phrase or if people say it everywhere but for sure people do it everywhere. (Worry themselves sick.) Worry and anxiety go hand in hand. Some people have anxiety disorders and cannot avoid the tightness in their chest and feeling like they can’t get their breath. Their minds race and their heart beats too fast. Others of us have to work our way up to that intense feeling of helplessness. In his book “Anxious for Nothing”, Max Lucado says “Anxiety is not a sin; it is an emotion. (So don’t be anxious about feeling anxious.)”. One day when my two oldest girls were 3 and 5 years old the smoke alarm in our house went off while I was out in the garage. It was obnoxiously loud. (I guess no one would want a quiet smoke alarm.) Anyway I stepped back into the house to check it out and I’ll never forget what I saw. Before I could get two steps inside, I saw my oldest daughter run back and forth from the living room area and into the backyard three times, waving her arms and screaming “Hurry! Get up! Get out! Fire!”. And as I made it farther into the house I discovered her sister still lying on the couch, arms behind her head, feet still propped up and crossed at the ankles, watching cartoons. Fortunately there was no fire. Not even any smoke. Probably just a low battery in the smoke alarm. But the difference between their reactions to a possible fire was unforgettable. In that instance, whose reaction made more sense? I’d go with the one who was trying to save her sister’s life. She didn’t just run out the door and leave her sister, she kept coming back in to get her. If there had been a fire she would have been the hero. The kid on the couch definitely may have under reacted if there had been an actual fire but she definitely did not panic. People all respond differently to situations. It is important to accept each other’s feelings and reactions but it is perhaps more important to accept our own. If we feel anxious perhaps we can try to remember that calling on God will bring us peace. (Turn off that loud alarm that’s going off in our mind... whether the danger is real or imagined.) But when anxiety gets the best of us we must forgive ourselves for our human reaction. God forgives us every day for being human. It’s important for us to also forgive ourselves. Otherwise we feel anxious about feeling anxious, and that’s like double alarms going off in our head! Psalm 94:19 says: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” The Bible is the most highlighted book on Kindle. Philippians 4:6-7 is the most highlighted passage: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Be at peace. Smile and be joyful!
My grandmother used to say, “I am worried sick about that!”. I’m not sure if that’s a southern phrase or if people say it everywhere but for sure people do it everywhere. (Worry themselves sick.) Worry and anxiety go hand in hand. Some people have anxiety disorders and cannot avoid the tightness in their chest and feeling like they can’t get their breath. Their minds race and their heart beats too fast. Others of us have to work our way up to that intense feeling of helplessness. In his book “Anxious for Nothing”, Max Lucado says “Anxiety is not a sin; it is an emotion. (So don’t be anxious about feeling anxious.)”. One day when my two oldest girls were 3 and 5 years old the smoke alarm in our house went off while I was out in the garage. It was obnoxiously loud. (I guess no one would want a quiet smoke alarm.) Anyway I stepped back into the house to check it out and I’ll never forget what I saw. Before I could get two steps inside, I saw my oldest daughter run back and forth from the living room area and into the backyard three times, waving her arms and screaming “Hurry! Get up! Get out! Fire!”. And as I made it farther into the house I discovered her sister still lying on the couch, arms behind her head, feet still propped up and crossed at the ankles, watching cartoons. Fortunately there was no fire. Not even any smoke. Probably just a low battery in the smoke alarm. But the difference between their reactions to a possible fire was unforgettable. In that instance, whose reaction made more sense? I’d go with the one who was trying to save her sister’s life. She didn’t just run out the door and leave her sister, she kept coming back in to get her. If there had been a fire she would have been the hero. The kid on the couch definitely may have under reacted if there had been an actual fire but she definitely did not panic. People all respond differently to situations. It is important to accept each other’s feelings and reactions but it is perhaps more important to accept our own. If we feel anxious perhaps we can try to remember that calling on God will bring us peace. (Turn off that loud alarm that’s going off in our mind... whether the danger is real or imagined.) But when anxiety gets the best of us we must forgive ourselves for our human reaction. God forgives us every day for being human. It’s important for us to also forgive ourselves. Otherwise we feel anxious about feeling anxious, and that’s like double alarms going off in our head! Psalm 94:19 says: “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” The Bible is the most highlighted book on Kindle. Philippians 4:6-7 is the most highlighted passage: “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything; tell God your needs, and don’t forget to thank him for his answers. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will keep your thoughts and your hearts quiet and at rest as you trust in Christ Jesus.” Be at peace. Smile and be joyful!
Another good one today mom, great message! I remember this moment very vividly. It still makes me laugh to think about it!!
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