Day 5—Vampire Worries

            How was your day today?  Have any problems?  Anything to worry about?  If you are a mom how could you get through a day without some type of problem, concern, or worry?  Even if you are not a mom, living life brings complications and frustrations.

            On one hand, I had a good day today.  However, it may not be the day you might envision.  I got grouchy with my kids and even yelled at them, trying to think about too many things at once gave me a headache, my to-do pile did not get any smaller—only the specific items in it changed, I was so tired from lack of sleep that I had to take a nap while supper was cooking, and my house is chilly because I do not want to spend the money to turn up the furnace.  It was a typical day.  As a result, it was also a good day in and around the not so good parts.

Maybe this is something
 I should be worried about.

            My typical days can easily turn into a list of worries and concerns.  My biggest concerns did not even make the list above.  Then there is tomorrow to worry about.  For me, there is no way I can do everything I think needs to be done tomorrow in that single day.  As I sit here, I just remembered a couple of things that I really needed to do today but forgot to do, so what do I do about them now.  Well, I will start with a plan to try to make sure at least those tasks get done tomorrow.  Then I will remember that worrying about something that is out of my hands is wasted time.

            What does the Bible say?

            Matthew 6:25, 27-29, 32-34  "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes … Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  … And why do you worry about clothes?  See how the lilies of the field grow.  They do not labor spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  … For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

           

            I Peter 5:15  "Cast all your anxiety on him (God) because he cares for you."

            Matthew 11:28-30  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  … For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

            In other words, give all your troubles, worries, and concerns to God.  He can handle them much better than you could ever try to resolve them.  Most of our troubles and worries are because we put too great of a burden on ourselves.  Yes, God calls us to fulfill His purposes, but He gives us the power to do it.  We do not have to do it on our own.  He is ready to fulfill our needs. 

            I should have meditated on these passages today.  I find it difficult to balance resting in God's provision and love as opposed to being a good steward with the gifts He has given me to the best of my ability to fulfill His purpose for my life.  I concentrate too much on my own "might" rather than God's.

            How do you translate this to your kids?  Start by being an example.  If you have a concern, do what you can to do what needs to be done.  If there is nothing you can do, turn it over to God.  If there is something you can do but either you feel like it is a heavy weight on your shoulders or you begin worrying too much about it, turn it over to God.  Remind yourself He is in charge, and you are the follower.  All of this is easier said than done, but that does not mean we cannot make it a goal.

            Then as your children worry about things, help talk them through it.  Sometimes their worry is unfounded.  A cousin's son fell and bumped his lip hard enough that it bled a little.  The little boy was inconsolable. No one could do anything to calm him down.  He even cried himself to sleep.  The next morning he woke up bewildered yet on the verge of being ecstatic.  He told his grandma, "Grandma, Grandma, I'm not a vampire.  I'm not a vampire!"

            "Of course, you're not a vampire.  What made you think you were?"

            "Last night when I fell down and bit my lip, I tasted my blood.  I tasted my blood!  That makes you turn into a vampire, but I didn't!"

            We can laugh at this and maybe think, "Oh, poor little boy."  On the other hand, maybe that is what God thinks when He sees us worrying about things we do not need to worry about.  Maybe the same situation is happening with your kids.  Not the vampire part—the part where their worry is based on misunderstanding or misconception.  Talking them through it may instantly relieve the anxiety.  If it is a reality based concern, then take them through these Scriptures, share an example of a time you overcame worry, and pray with them.

            Your Turn:  This is where I like challenge you to kick start your own plan of action for your kids or a strategy (or self-evaluation) for yourself, yet I think I took care of that in the paragraphs above.  Just remember, when you try to carry the burden of worries yourself rather than handing them over to God, you are not much different than the little boy who cried himself to sleep because he was worried he would become a vampire.

            Let me know how you have handled worry in your house.  I have a list of topics for the 31 Day series, but they are not ready-to-go yet; therefore, I have room to make sure I include something on your mind if you let me know what it is.

            If you would like more ideas on helping your children (and yourself) develop a Biblical worldview or to find out how to win a Wal-Mart gift card, go to the 31 Days Giveaway (Intro. Part II) post for more Touching Families blog links.  If you want to check out other 31 Days' topics, see The Nester.

*All verses quoted are from the New International Version:  THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.