Holiday season is here! Lots to do in the coming weeks. Are you
looking forward with happy excitement and joy-filled anticipation? Or are
worries and fears about how things will turn out dominating all your thoughts?
Whether it's a dinner or a party or a performance, now is the time to think and
process how to appropriately handle life’s bumps and bruises. First, let your
mind wander and imagine how the event might play out. As you do a “walk-through”
of your upcoming event, make a list of every little thing that makes you
anxious. All the what-ifs. And now, in the stillness of this moment, take them
one by one, and consider how you would really like to respond, if you had time
and a clear head (and right now, you do!) Write these down as well, if you
like. It may help you remember them. Got through that list of worries? Now
breathe. And pray that you will respond with forethought and not knee-jerk
emotions. Need an example? Okay, here goes:
I have the kids at church
decorating Christmas cookies this Sunday. The cookies will be a gift for our
homebound and those over 80 years old. What worries come to mind:
·
They will dump
piles of sprinkles in the middle of the cookie vs. “decorate”
·
My expectations
of what they can do will be too high
·
I might not have
enough adult helpers
·
People may be
upset to see the kids licking their fingers and still handling cookies (wasn’t
that part of the fun growing up?)
·
Maybe I’ll seem
too domineering or mean trying to get kids to do a better job and someone will
let me know that and my feelings will get hurt, and that will ruin the fun for
everyone
Okay… breathe…pray. Now think
of a good way to handle these worries:
·
I can make up a
few simple samples for them to see
·
I can teach by
explaining in a few simple steps what to do
·
I can demonstrate
how to sprinkle gently with a spoon
·
I can realize
that kids are kids and lots of people think what they do is just adorable
·
There’s usually
adults around at Sunday School time; willing to help
·
I will pray and
breathe and relax and I will anticipate an enjoyable time for all with an
adorable, darling array of childlike decorated cookies to delight our seniors
I feel better already! I
think I’ll save this list and see how things turn out on Sunday. I know God
hears my prayers and that even the smallest little concerns matter to Him.
Thank You, God!
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