Leaving Worry Behind

In my last post, I was struggling to decide how to proceed with our grandchildren’s education this school year. I found myself leaning one way but worrying about the repercussions of each option. There is no easy answer to this situation. Everyone knows that at this point.

This morning, I was listening to the Sermon on the Mount, and the following verse jumped out at me:

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34

We made our decision two weeks ago. We had no choice. The deadline was upon us. We’re doing virtual for now. My grandson will participate in a micro-school with two other children. They will have someone available to monitor their progress and help if needed. While he does that, I can work without constantly stopping to make sure he’s staying focused and on track. This option, also, meets his social needs. My granddaughter is self-motivated, so she’ll attend virtually from home.

Since making this decision, I’ve not worried as much…until this week. Why? My granddaughter has been in contact with her friends, and she misses them. Most of her friends opted for the hybrid in-person/e-learning option. I’m not concerned about the educational impact. The virtual option guarantees teacher access throughout the school day. The e-learning part of the other option does not. I’m concerned about her friendships. She’s been very lonely this summer. I began to worry if her friendships will survive.

Then my Bible app read Matthew 6:34. These words spoken by Jesus over 2000 years ago comforted me. Worry will not change things. We made the best decision we could. No one knows the future. I know for some of you, not worrying is a tough undertaking. I don’t tend to worry a lot, but there are times when my internal thoughts chip away at my soul. This verse, and the ones preceding it, came for me at the right time.

As Jesus says, each day has enough trouble of its own.

I hope you are well and safe and not worrying.

 

 

As a side note, I uploaded a video of me reading one of my short stories about domestic violence on YouTube a few weeks ago. It’s not Christian-themed, so if you decide to listen to it, keep that in mind.  But since I’ve written about domestic violence many times on this blog, I thought I’d share the story. You can find it here.

Difficult Decisions and Good News

Spin the wheel for an answer!

Sometimes I don’t want to write these posts. Mainly because it’s hard to figure out what to share and what not to share.

We’re coping with the whole quarantine thing. I’m working with the kids at home, but there’s nothing that can be done about that. We manage. Some days it’s easier. My grandson tends to wander into my office more. He’s discovered a spin-the-wheel toy a former trainee gave me years ago. It’s called The Executive Decision Maker. He loves to spin it and ask it if he should do whatever I’ve just told him to do.

Yesterday, my granddaughter had an appointment with the medical office where she and I were exposed in March. We weren’t told who on the staff exposed us, but I asked how that person had fared. He died. His entire family got Covid-19, and his father died, too. God was watching over us that day since she and I tested negative for the virus.

Speaking of exposure, the schools have asked parents to decide if their children will do virtual school this fall. If you want them in the virtual program, you have to sign them up now. They don’t know whether the schools will open for direct instruction or e-learning or a mix. It’s crazy. My granddaughter told me yesterday she wants to do virtual school. I worry that she’ll miss out on her friends (assuming it’s safe to return to school in August) and whether she’ll be able to take the courses she signed up for. The district’s FAQ page indicates that might happen with a few classes, such as related arts. This year, she’s signed up for Honors Art. This was a huge deal to be accepted, and I wonder whether virtual school means telling that dream good-bye.

Her brother fared ok with e-learning last year, but it was a chore to keep him on track. I’m unclear about what to do because he truly needs social interaction with a teacher and classmates. If our county offered it as a 9-week option like some places, I might be tempted to start that way. But our district says it’s a year-long commitment, but you might can switch at the end of the first semester. Might. Can. Switch.

Before you go crazy on me because you believe the virus is overblown or you believe schools should not re-open, please just don’t. We’ve been careful. We were exposed once. I’m trying to look at the whole picture and decide what makes the best sense for these two grands in our care. Isn’t that what we all are doing?

Maybe I should spin the wheel and see what it says. But I think prayer might be a better option.

In other news, there are good things happening in my life. I signed a book deal with a publisher and the first book of my trilogy should come out in December just in time for Christmas. I’ll share more as the time approaches, but you can watch my social media announcement here.

Our daughter appears to be trying to do things the right way. It’s too soon to know if she’ll succeed this time. That sounds pessimistic, I know, especially for a Christian who believes in God’s ability to transform us. I’m too aware of her history and how difficult this can be for an addict. If she does stay on track, I pray she doesn’t move too soon to regain custody. And if she does, how will my decision about school impact the grandchildren?

There are no easy answers…only prayer.

Rejoice! He Is Risen From the Darkness

Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay

Over this Easter weekend, I’ve shared my thoughts and a sister’s thoughts about the days leading up to the resurrection.

With the current Corona virus situation, our church is meeting online like so many others. We need to help stop the spread of the Corona virus, and this sacrifice strikes at our heart. You either understand or feel cheated. Those who feel cheated complain because they can’t gather together in a church building. The church is not a building. It is a gathering of Christ’s followers, no matter how that gathering occurs.

This pandemic opens the door for us to reach people who normally don’t go to church. They may find comfort in our church’s online worship celebration. People all over the world can find it. (You can find my church’s virtual worship videos here on YouTube.

Is it wrong to not gather in the way we’re accustomed?

On the night of the Last Supper, Jesus warned his disciples they would be scattered:

“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me. “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:32-33

Take heart. He overcame the world. He is stronger than a pandemic. He expects us to love each other as He loves us. If you love your brothers and sisters, you will scatter to your home until it’s safe to re-emerge, just as Christ emerged from the tomb.

In preparation for this unusual Sunday, our minister asked each of us to videotape ourselves filling in this sentence:

Because He Lives __________________________.

It might not surprise you to know my video was too large to email to the minister! I had a message, and I tried so hard to share it in as few words as possible. I had to try several times before I got it short enough to send him.

Unlike the confines of file size and email limits, I can share it here.

What did I want to say?

Because He lives, we have the example of how to approach the darkness. Jesus knew the darkness was coming. He knew about the pain and suffering of the crucifixion, yet, he continued to walk toward it. He showed us that it was OK to be afraid, anxious, and nervous because he experienced those emotions on the night he was betrayed.

He went through the pain and suffering, anyway.

He gave us the example of what happens when we do go into the darkness and do embrace our fears. On the other side is a beauty and joy we can’t begin to imagine.

He is the lion and the lamb. He guides us through our fears and sweeps away the darkness to greet us with open arms: the same arms he spread on the cross to sacrifice himself in our place.

We are free. We are forgiven. We are blessed.

Because He lives!

Hallelujah! Christ Jesus Lives!

NOTE: If your church offers an online worship experience, please feel free to list it in the Comments of this post, so any soul seeking His Word can find it.

Because He Lives!

 

Image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay