Monday, June 4, 2012

Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina!


I promised myself I wouldn’t do it, but I did it anyway.  I made that stupid sound.  You know the sound.  The one people make right before they think another car is going to hit theirs.  The sound they make before they drop several stories on a roller coaster.  The sound they make before a small child goes down a slide for the first time.

As I tightly hugged my eldest son yesterday, that annoying sound escaped my inner being.  He was leaving for a six-week study abroad program in Argentina and… he was leaving without me. 

I would like to tell you that I patted his back and cheerfully exclaimed, “Have a great time!  See you later!”  And though I did speak pleasant words to the boy, on the inside I was pleading, “Always travel with a friend…don’t go anywhere unsavory looking…don’t talk to strangers…say your prayers…Skype me everyday...be careful…be careful…come back to me…be careful…”

If you’re a human over the age of three, you’ve quite possibly made some form of the “sound” yourself at one time or another.  And regardless of a faith history you may have with the Creator, you probably still battle worry more than you care to admit. 

And it’s not just moms who worry.  Or even women in general.  In this economy, men are fretting more than ever about job security, financial provision for their families…the list goes on.  I teach in a public school, and I’m saddened by the worry I see even very young people saddled with. Worry is everywhere…eager to distract us and, if at all possible, render us useless.

My husband is constantly reminding me that worry is just the result of a deeper issue…lack of trust.  I hate when he’s right like that.  But, it’s so true.  I do have a faith history with my Creator, and I know He loves and cares for my South American-bound boy even more than I ever could.  But, still…

Sigh. I already have to buy two boxes of color each time I want to cover the gray in my hair.  I can’t afford the number of grays requiring three. 

Still, as long as there are cars, roller coasters, slides and children who have the nerve to grow up and get a life of his or her own…that sound is going to be waiting in the wings.

And to keep it in the wings and out of my lungs as much as possible, I try to remember this: “People with their minds set on you, you keep completely whole, steady on their feet, because they keep at it and don’t quit.  Depend on God and keep at it because in the Lord God you have a sure thing.”  Isaiah 26:3-4 MSG

I have to “keep at it.”  I have to intentionally keep at trusting in the God I know is a sure thing. We all do.

What helps you “keep at it?” Feel free to share, because the more encouragement spoken in our caves, the better. 

10 comments:

  1. What helps me "keep at it?" Being "in the Lord". Focusing my mind on who He is and saying those attributes out loud so that I can hear them (and so can my enemy who does not want me to focus on anything other than myself). When I focus on the character of God, I am humbled and at the same time strongly secured tightly in His hands. It makes the worrying seem very petty.

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  2. I love that you say the attributes of God out loud! I catch myself doing the same thing at times and I hope others will read your thoughts and try it, too! In the shadow of our big, awesome God, worrying can be realized as the tiny fly buzzing around it truly is!

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  3. Thank you so much for sharing your heart! This is such an encouragement to me with where we are in life right now. We are getting ready to leave our two eldest daughters behind as we go to Panama and this is a great word about trust! Thank you and God bless! Lynne

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    1. Panama is getting something very special in you and your family! I hope everyone reading this blog will remember to pray for you and yours as you go!

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  4. I love the picture!! It says much more than a hug. I've been there before and agree, you want to say be careful, don't do this or that but I guess a hug is all they need. They already know what you're going to say.

    Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement. Love and miss you, Pam

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    1. Love your comment, "They already know what you're going to say." Probably true even when they're very small, uh? Love and miss you, too!

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  5. I remember all the missions trips our children have gone on; Costa Rica, Mexico, Africa, China and several in the U.S.like Georgetown D.C.,
    homeless shelters in San Francisco and Los Angeles. All i could say was,"I trust you Lord" over and over and over..... of course our children heard , "I'm so excited for you and I know God is going to do amazing things, you will be blessed." In return my Lord and Savior ALWAYS comforted me, walked next to me. His faithfulness and grace were ever present. Perfect ..I am not, just ask Bob how many melt downs I've had, until next time. Bless you Cavewoman.

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    1. I hope all of my readers take your words to heart, Vicki. If the rest of us do half as well as you have...hooray! And melt downs? That's probably a blog topic all on its own, right? :) Thanks for visiting my cave today!

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  6. Love this blog. I recently experienced the same but I was the one leaving. It doesn't matter who is doing the leaving, the worry and heart pain is the same. Blog-on Cavewoman, BLOG-ON!!

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  7. I agree with "It doesn't matter who is doing the leaving." Thanks so much for reading and I continue to "blog-on" with your support! Blessings!

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