Worry. It's a verb in several forms. However, I should have it tattooed on my arm, because it represents a lot of what my day to day is all about. I seem to always be able to find something to worry about. And, it almost always seems to be "tomorrow." It's a sense of denial, almost, that I feel like I do not deserve to have a good tomorrow; therefore, I worry that I won't. Believe me, it ruins a lot of days off. So, how do I handle it? Well, up until today I just put my shoulder down and would take on the day. It seems like over my lifetime I have wasted hot relaxing showers, days off, times of fun, good workouts, holidays and much more by just worrying about the next day. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME! There's a song by Brad Paisley titled "Time Well Wasted." Well, I am here to tell you that none of those times were well wasted. In fact, they were poorly wasted.
It's amazing that is has taken me almost 29 years to figure out that I have very little control over what happens tomorrow, and worrying about tomorrow only takes away from the times I am in the midst of. How much have I missed? How much have I lost out on? Who knows?!? Also, who cares? I know I don't. I definitely can't learn to stop worrying about tomorrow, if I start looking in the rear view trying to find regrets. Then, I am just eating up the present by worrying about the past (although, I have done quite a bit of that anyway). I just can't trade one for the other.
Here's my story for the day...
I have been reading this book, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart, by Ed Dobson who wrote the book after being diagnosed with ALS. The chapter I was reading was titled "Worry," and it started with the following verse: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).” It hit me right in the chest and I knew this was God speaking to me. Then I reflected on a text that received a few minutes earlier from my best friend, "No need to stress with the big G O D on your side." That was when I decided that I was going to change some things that I am going to do. I can't Eliminate stress, but I can do things to help me cope with it. Here's an excerpt from the book that I plan on doing:
“I [Ed Dobson] came across some verses that continually help me focus on today.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6)
I wrote out these verses on several index cards. I put one next to the bed. I put another on the bathroom mirror. I put one in my office. I put another in my car. Whenever I would begin thinking about the future and start sinking into the fog, I would take a five-minute time-out. I would look at the card and repeat the verses for five minutes. The first time I quoted them, I barely believed a single word. But as I repeated them, they began to sink into my mind and soul. By the time I had finished, I was refocused on the present and not distracted by the future”
Excerpt From: Dobson, Ed. “Seeing Through the Fog.” David C Cook, 2012-08-07. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
I have a lot of life ahead of me. I have spent a lot of time worrying. My commitment to myself and my family from this moment on is that I will do everything in my power to focus on today and let tomorrow worry about itself.
Have a great week and God Bless!
I have been reading this book, Seeing Through the Fog: Hope When Your World Falls Apart, by Ed Dobson who wrote the book after being diagnosed with ALS. The chapter I was reading was titled "Worry," and it started with the following verse: “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34).” It hit me right in the chest and I knew this was God speaking to me. Then I reflected on a text that received a few minutes earlier from my best friend, "No need to stress with the big G O D on your side." That was when I decided that I was going to change some things that I am going to do. I can't Eliminate stress, but I can do things to help me cope with it. Here's an excerpt from the book that I plan on doing:
“I [Ed Dobson] came across some verses that continually help me focus on today.
God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5–6)
I wrote out these verses on several index cards. I put one next to the bed. I put another on the bathroom mirror. I put one in my office. I put another in my car. Whenever I would begin thinking about the future and start sinking into the fog, I would take a five-minute time-out. I would look at the card and repeat the verses for five minutes. The first time I quoted them, I barely believed a single word. But as I repeated them, they began to sink into my mind and soul. By the time I had finished, I was refocused on the present and not distracted by the future”
Excerpt From: Dobson, Ed. “Seeing Through the Fog.” David C Cook, 2012-08-07. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright.
I have a lot of life ahead of me. I have spent a lot of time worrying. My commitment to myself and my family from this moment on is that I will do everything in my power to focus on today and let tomorrow worry about itself.
Have a great week and God Bless!
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