Worry…

Happy Wednesday,

How is everyone doing this fine Wednesday? Did anyone get any sleep last night or did you find yourself glued to the TV trying to figure out who the heck is our new President? Like Mr. Biden says, we are going to need to practice a little patience until all votes are accounted for. I actually went to bed around 10 last night. I figure, staying up all night to watch for a verdict, well, it wasn’t going to do me any good. I’d just be overly tired today and that never makes for a very productive day, so off to bed I went. Seeing there is no outcome as of yet, I’m glad I followed my gut instinct and got me some good nights sleep.

I was thinking about the election when I got up. I talked to a neighbor this morning that I bumped into on my walk and there was a sense of stress in her because of the way the election is going. I wonder how many more of us are feeling the tension in the world today? I came home, had a cup of coffee on the patio and read my morning devotional and it was to no surprise to be talking about worry. I then read my morning text and it was from Ephesians 4:15 and it read, “but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.” I thought the morning text and the devotional thought went hand in hand and I thought even more how fitting it was for today, a day of unrest and uncertainty for who will be our President for the next 4 years.

According to the text I read this morning, it made a really good point. It brought out how the truth sometimes hurts. I’m sure we’ve all had someone tell us something about ourselves, maybe even about our children that hurt us. Sometimes looking in the mirror and having that person look back at us hurts. When we look in the mirror we are having to look at ourselves in a complete and most honest way. Sure, we can put on a mask and pretend that some of the need to change qualities aren’t there, however, you know as well as I do, we really aren’t hiding the real truth from the person that counts the most, ourselves, and that’s whose looking back at us in the mirror. When we think about the truth , wouldn’t you agree that if we lived in a more perfect world, the truth really shouldn’t hurt? We live in a world that is filled with lies, concealment and falsehood. Now as far as the scripture is concerned, it was referring to a belief in Christ and a need to bring forth his light in a darkened world. What about those that don’t believe in Christ? I think the thought still applies, after all, we all live in the same world. We all face the same challenges and we are all apart of the same global issues. We all face worry and we all face the same person in the mirror, ourselves. The truth of the matter facing us all is, someone is going to win this election and there is going to be some happy people and some not so happy people, however, will be control our actions, our thoughts and speech? We don’t need to agree with the outcome, we are entitled to our views, but that doesn’t make the other persons views any less valid then our own.

I’m sure you’ve all figured out that I believe in God. I always have and that won’t change. I feel a very strong connection to my faith and it seems to be growing stronger all the time. I’m lucky to have John in my life who encourages me to not only read the scriptures’, but to research the things I’ve read. I was telling John this morning how God seems to always be providing for me, even when I don’t ask for help, even when I rely too much on myself, God always comes through. I feel when I let myself feel despair, I’m not being true to my faith and God always seems to kindly remind me that he has never left me. He proves it in everything he does for me. John said he feels that God is teaching us both how to be more compassionate. Between the two of us, we pretty much can cover all the bases on trials. My morning text was a lesson in not worrying about the evils and lies of this world, but instead to focus and seek guidance and help from God to face them and to embrace and welcome the truth about ourselves. Doing so makes us a better person. We become more real. Being more real helps us not to worry so much about the things we cannot change. Matthew 6:27, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

The devotional thought included that very scripture in Matthew along with those that followed, and made the point that worrying won’t add to my life, it will only take away from it. How true that is. With the obstacles and lessons I’ve had to learn and encounter over the last few years, I can honestly say, I’ve wasted countless hours on worrying about things I simply cannot change. John and I were talking this morning and he was telling me how he was out on the bay and having a long talk with God. I love how he openly and honestly talks about his faith. Anyway, John was telling me that in his discussion with God that he was lead to read Matthew 6:34, “therefore, do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it’s own.” Point well made. Worrying won’t add anything to our lives, it’ll only take from our life. Worrying about tomorrow isn’t worth it either. Each day brings about it’s own sense of worry.

I feel I was directed to read my text this morning as well as my devotional thought, especially before John told me about how he was guided this morning to read Matthew 6:34. It all seems to have fallen into place those scriptures’ and texts. Not only do they apply in my personal life, but they validate the point of staying out of and not letting myself get so caught up in the delay of the election. There have been so many posts this morning talking about how we need to respect each other no matter which side of the fence you are on or how you voted. Posts on how we need to come together as a nation, rather then being torn apart by who will be next president. All of those comments and posts are 100% in line with what I read this morning from the scriptures and from my devotional book. People feel a sense of darkness in our world as things unfold. I won’t profess to be any sort of expert at all on politics, but like you all, I’m part of this journey of what’s happening in our world and the different possibilities that could happen depending on who wins.

To worry about the outcome and what might or might not happen, for me, it takes way to much energy. I respect everyone’s right to express and feel the way they do, as long as it doesn’t add to or create any sort of hate speech or acts. Votes have been cast, polls are closed and the countdown continues. We might not like the outcome, but we can’t change it, we can only change our response towards it. Maybe if we all take the approach to not worry so much about the outcome, but instead how we will react to it and work with what we have, maybe we will be better off in ourselves. Again, I am no expert on politics, yet I will accept who wins. Ballots and votes have been cast and there’s no changing what the majority chose. I don’t want to give into worry anymore than I already do. I don’t want to give way to anxiety or unease and I certainly don’t want my mind dwelling on the difficulties or troubles that may or may not lie ahead.

Today, tomorrow and the next couple of days are a new experience for us all. We do have cause for disquietude, especially as we venture into the unknown, however, for us to sit and and dwell in worry, it won’t change the outcome of anything. Instead, may we all find it in our hearts to accept each other and realize that this is a time to come together rather then allow ourselves to be pulled apart even further. This year has marked so many changes in so many lives. No matter what our spiritual belief system is, may be never forget, we all have something in common. We all want to live in peace. We all want our children and grandchildren to live happy lives. Instead of spending time in worry, maybe we can better spend our time in finding a solution to getting along. Republican, Democrat, Independent or non political, it’s time to come together.

I am the worlds biggest worrier. I constantly worry about my family, my friends, what is going to happen on my court case? Will I have enough money once my disability runs out? Will my permanent disability finally kick in? Where will I be in six months or a year from now? Will I move out of California? Or back to Murrieta? The list goes on and on. Matthew 6:34, “therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” While I don’t suggest taking world events lightly, I do suggest we draw upon our faith, no matter what that looks like and pull strength from that and perhaps, we won’t find ourselves in an ocean of distress.

I do hope you enjoyed the daily blog? What are your thoughts? They matter to me and so does your opinion. We don’t have to agree, however, when I hear your thoughts on the different subject matter, it helps me see things from a different perspective and it helps me grow not only in understanding, but I grow as a person. Keep those comments coming and until next time, be kind to one another, tell that someone special in your life just how much you love them and don’t forget, Love Life++