Dear ones,
You might remember my word this year is PEACE. Which has, up until now, been pretty elusive to my life. This year and for many years prior. My goal for 2018 was to recognize the anxiety and concerns that start bubbling up in physical manifestations in my body. Clenching or grinding my teeth. Balling my hands into fists. Tightness in my shoulders and neck. During the day as well as awakening me at night. Then once I realized what was happening, I hoped to find ways to replace the anxiety and stress with peacefulness. But I have not been terribly successful.
Before I go any further, a disclaimer. Should have begun today’s post with that. I am a relative novice in matters of the spirit. A newbie to church, to reading the Bible and devotional time. Read about my journey, here, if you like.
Seeking Peace
Last night, we attended church for the first time since my Prince has been home from Germany. The message was on pointe with just what I needed to hear. Imagine that! Hmm, how did that happen? I wonder!
Our junior pastor, Jared talked about building a healthy soul. And gave the steps from Philippians 4, in a way that reminded me of the steps in recipe. Always have eating on the brain!
These are the steps that I hope to commit to memory when I feel peace escaping me.
- Rejoice in the Lord always, and again, and again. Take pleasure in our Heavenly Father.
- Be gentle and loving toward all people. Let others know I celebrate God and reflect His light in my life for others to see.
- Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. With thankfulness and gratitude, take all of my concerns to God in prayer. BIGGIE.
- Allow the peace of God to stand guard over my heart, knowing that everything will come together for good.
- Finally, think on things that are good, true, the best and not the worst, whatever is lovely and brings peace. Think on all the blessings of my life.
So, as I feel worry and concern overtaking me, I need to remember this recipe for peace. This week, I have been faithful to my devotional time and miracle of miracles, I’ve slept all the way through every night. Except for a quick sleepwalk to the bathroom and back, once or twice. The worries and concerns are still very much present in my life but I am not shouldering them alone. When I take the few moments to enjoy quiet time in the morning, write in my gratitude journal before bed, and commit everything to prayer when I feel troubled (and when I don’t), it’s as if I am wrapped in a blanket of peace.
Jared’s sermon was not written just especially for me but it was put upon my heart (and my conscience?) that we should go to church last night. So glad we did.
This Month’s Little Miracles and Gratefuls
Some of my April gratefuls:
- That my sister and her husband’s marriage is so strong, even after the loss of a child; seeing my nephew Trey 04.01
- Laughing with my sister; Brennyn and Cady hugs 04.03
- The love showered on me for my birthday 04.06
- Love from Brennyn and Cady; home sweet home 04.08
- Able to loosen my shoelace from around the emergency brake pedal while driving on the Interstate; Lauren’s happiness to see me, Lucia caressing my face hello 04.11
- Lauren’s doctor, Dr. Emil, is leaving no stone unturned in getting a diagnosis for my daughter’s health issues 04.12
- My PC is HOME! 04.14
- Our whole family (PC, Purrsnickitty, Purrsimmony and I) piled up together in bed 04.15
- Rain for the first time since October 04.19
- Making homemade bread with my sister via Skype 04.21
- All of Lauren’s testing is finally behind her and we are awaiting the final results 04.23
- Brennyn’s compassionate bedside manner 04.26
- PC opened the car door for me which made me feel fancy 04.27
- Lauren’s new meds make her feel more normal 04.28
There are day-to-day, simple things that I am always thankful for like my home and family, PC’s job (reigning, of course). This month, though, there were lots of bigger things to be grateful for…the health care my Lauren is getting, Brennyn and Cady closing one chapter of their lives and beginning a new one, safe travels on all of my journeys and for my Prince returning home to me.
So blessed.
Your Turn
What do you call the person who presides over services at your church? I really dislike the title of preacher. I prefer pastor to preacher. And minister over both of those. Don’t like the idea of being preached at. But I do like the connotation associated with being ministered to. PC says it’s semantics. I disagree. What do you think?
What does seeking peace look like to you? Is there a recipe you follow to chase away worry? If so, I would love to hear about in a comment below, and share something you’ve been grateful for this month, too!
Off to the gym. Hope you will return tomorrow for “Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone”. And don’t forget to enter the Mother’s Day giveaway, here. Happy Sunday!
Hugs and kisses,
Debs
Over here we don’t have preachers, the person who gives the sermon in the church is a vicar. Is that just a Church of England thing I wonder? I constantly have to remind myself when anxiety gets the better of me that if I am worrying over something I have no control of, I have the hand that worry over and trust that whatever needs to happen, will happen. We watched a film a week or two ago, Bridge of Spies, and the character who is supposedly a spy being handed back to the Russians is asked ‘Are you worried?’ to which he replies ‘Will it help?’ and that struck home to me, worrying about something rarely affects the outcome!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
I think vicar is probably a title specific to the Church of England. I don’t know of any denominations here that use that title. How true that worrying doesn’t do much to help the situation, although, at 3:00 am, I sometimes come up with solutions to problems or new ways of looking at things. And if I can tip-toe out of our bedroom and write my thoughts or concerns down (without waking up PC), that helps, too. But I most often fall back to sleep when I begin praying over the issue.
Joanne Long
My attendance at church began just before my retirement 6 years ago. My father was terminally ill and I found that I felt peaceful when I attended services. Our minister’s sermon is now called “the reflection.” I used to worry much more and I now realize that it is a habit that I learned from my mother who suffers from general anxiety. If we believe in a “spiritual
order to the world” or God, then worry is unnecessary and if we are atheist, worrying won’t help anyway. I am grateful that my daughter and I are building a closer relationship.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Joanne, so glad to hear from you again. I don’t know if I realized you had a blog before but I have followed you on Bloglovin’ now. So glad to meet you and share retirement adventures. And reviews of children’s books. How I love them!!
My mother is a first class worrier, too, so I come by it naturally. And I am afraid at least my youngest daughter, if not both, have inherited it from me. Worry is not productive or helpful much of the time. But every once in awhile, I will think of a potential solution to a problem or have a clever idea at 3:00 am.
The death of my 3 year old nephew is probably what drew my family closer spiritually and every other way. My parents never attended services since they’ve been adults, but interestingly, my brother, sister and I all have!
Glad to know you and your daughter are building a closer relationship. So nice to meet you, to have you stop by and leave comments. Looking forward to getting to know you better!
Em
A beautiful post with beautiful thoughts! You captured your word of the year so well and have inspired me with your message…actually you did a better job than the homily given by “Father” at the Mass we attended today!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Em. Your comments always mean so much. I need to keep my word more in mind the rest of the year.