Skinned knees. Kidnappers. Pornography. Bullies. Saying the wrong things. Discipline. Bad words. Health and Illness. Death. Germs. Cavities. Social Media. Car wrecks. Broken bones. Speech delays. Not enough extra curriculars. Too many extra curriculars. Eating organic or conventional foods. Negative influences. Collapsed arches. Running into poles. Sadness. Happiness. Education. Faith.
I worry about all of it, especially now that I'm a mom. I've been a mom now for over 7 years. You'd think the worry wart-ness would have died down by now, but nope. I worry constantly about my parenting and my children's safety, faith and happiness.
I have to be honest, it has crippled me many times. Anxiety ridden days have been a thing for me more times than I can count. But I've found that those days increase when I'm not spending time with Jesus on a regular basis. Once I figured that out (duh, right?), I noticed myself calming down a bit. Rest and relax in truth. Knowing that everything was and will be ok.
Now don't get me wrong, I still have to protect my children from dangerous people and situations. It is my responsibility to make sure my children aren't playing in a busy highway or leaving them alone in public areas with gobs and gobs of people around. I brush their teeth to address the cavity thing. I watch my tongue, to help with the "what if they hear bad words" thing. I speak life giving words in their life, so that when a bully does come around, they know the truth about who they are (or I can only hope). I keep my eye on them, ensure they are safe, and then let God do the rest.
I can only do what I can do, and let go of everything else. I can't control the future, but God does.
I love this passage from Matthew 6:33-34. It reads,
"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." (NIV)
In simple terms, I think this Bible verse is expressing that we should first acknowledge God, who He is, and by doing so, worry melts away. This verse is also asking us to live in the present, to avoid worrying about the future. God is already there, it is already taken care of, the now is where you are and where we need to give our focus and attention.
But I don't think that God wants us to totally put the future away. I believe that He wants us to look forward to the future. He wants us to dream and work toward our goals. But He also wants us to enjoy the process, giving us the opportunity to do so without fear and worry when we put Him first.
Ahhh, that's a breath of fresh air!
This week's yoga journaling prompt:
Make a list of everything that you worry about. On another page, list your present joys.
I find this exercise to be very eye opening. Beginning with all the things I worry about, helps me see everything my brain focuses on, most of it being future out-of-my-control events. Then, when I start focusing on my present joys, like spending time with my kids, eating a burrito with my husband, sitting in the sun, smiling, my whole mindset and worries begin to cease. I think it's important to also acknowledge God's present presence when doing this. It just puts you in such a good mood.
Some ways to help you work through this week's journal prompt:
1. Spend an entire day this week consciously living in the moment. Write about your experience at the end of the day. Was it difficult? Easy? How did you feel at the end of the day?
2. Spend some time in prayer this week. Pray Matthew 6:33-34 to the Lord, asking Him to walk with you as you learn to live in the present. Notice during the week where God shows up.
3. Worry can be a natural occurrence for most of us. Work mindfully this week to notice when worry starts to slip in your day. When you do, stop, take a deep breath and remind yourself of God's righteousness (Matt. 6:33-34) and invite Him into your day. Take notice of your worry. Does it still stick around? Does it dissipate?
Let's get you moving:
Sometimes yoga is movement, while sometimes yoga is stillness (and sometimes somewhere in between). When worry or anxiety creeps into your day, spend some time in Childs Pose to breathe deeply.
Come to your mat, sitting on your knees. Allow the big toes to touch, and the knees to widen on the mat. Take a deep breath in and as you exhale, walk your hands out so that the arms are extended long on the mat. Allow the forehead to rest on the mat, a blanket or a block. Stay and breathe. Spend this time praying, asking the Lord to guide you through any anxious thoughts this week.
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