Leaving Worry Behind

For the last eight years I have sought to come up with a yearly mantra for which I could focus my intentions and personal direction in the coming year.  I find that New Years resolutions just do not work for me. But, if I have a mantra that becomes my goal and life motto for the year I find I can learn, grow and progress forward into becoming a better person, daughter, wife, mother and friend.
My mantra for 2018 is...

"Leave Worry and Fear Behind and TRUST in Him who is Divine"

I truly believe that when they test my DNA they will find that I have a special molecule that contains a "worry" code.  Worrying about things is part of my genetic make-up!  Try as I might to be at peace, I worry.  Ron tells me to go ahead and worry about things, as 99.5% of the things that I worry about never happen. Why do I focus so many waking hours worrying about things most likely will not happen?  That is the million dollar question.  

Definition

wor·ry /wərē/ come from the Old English word:  wyrgan which means ‘strangle.’ 

  Verb: give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. 

  Noun: a state of anxiety and uncertainty over actual or potential problems.

So basically I strangle myself when I worry!  The definition suggests that I give way to feelings of anxiety and uneasiness and allow trouble and difficulties to be ever present in my mind...DUH that seems a little obvious.  And apparently that is not all, I seem to be in a state of uncertainly over actual or potential problems.  DUH again!  This is exactly what so many of my thought are about.  Now, don't get me wrong.  Worrying doesn't seem to interfere with my eating habits or daily routines.  Sometimes I wish it did - losing weight would be simple!  I just think I think too much.  And much of that thinking is thinking of potential problems or events.  One positive outcome of worrying is that I really work hard at being prepared.  Worrying can cause one to prevent things from happening, can help one stay out of debt and can anticipate issues and help others in need - because people like me worried and then did something about it!  (See how I can make even the act of worrying a positive - I worry that I am sounding too negative with my post!)

My issue is not that I think I worry to much, but that I might let my worrying block some of the JOY of everyday life.  My favorite scripture is Proverbs 3: 5-6, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." Sometimes I ask myself, if I truly trusted in the Lord would I worry?  However, I do TRUST Him and I TRUST in Him; so why do I worry?  Why do I allow my mind to "dwell on difficulties, troubles, problems or uncertainty?  Maybe it is because I have no control over other people and many situations.  My DNA makeup also has the gene for organization and I think that is a control issue.  Maybe I worry about things I can't control! 

What I need to do is let go of the things that occupy my mind that I have no control over and turn those issues over to the Lord, and then He can direct my path - because I just don't understand so many things.  Like why can't people of all races, religions and creeds just be nice and kind? What happened to civility?  Why can't we just get rid of addictions of all kinds?  Why can't families learn to love, trust and respect each other?  Why does it seem that GUNS have become the answer to people problems?  Those are just some of the things that rattle around in my mind and cause me to worry for my children and my grandchildren.  I worry about the choices that others could make that could effect them.  I have other issues and worries that are more of a personal nature.  I will need this year to ponder, reflect and think about them in my own time.  But, for this year I will try to live by my mantra...

"Leave Worry and Fear Behind and TRUST in Him who is Divine"