I Have Not Given You a Spirit of Fear

My mom was a worrying, fearful person. She never took risks. Wouldn't try anything new. Didn't want to go any place she'd never been before (well, maybe a new restaurant or shopping mall). If she was visiting family, she insisted on returning home within an hour or two after arriving.

Because of her fear of unfamiliar situations, she didn't come to my induction into the National
Honor Society during my junior year in high school. Everyone else had one or both parents attending. No one came for me. My father was dead and my mother later pleaded some imagined malady, something she frequently did to avoid unknown situations.

My Mom did not attend my wedding. I lived across the country by then, and although my sister and her husband flew out and would have traveled with her every step of the way, she would not fly. When each of my four children were born, she still did not come to visit. I lived 3,000 miles away from her for 13 years but she never visited.

In my heart I forgave her for her unwillingness to try and step out of her comfort zone, to be there for me for many of the special moments in my life. Most of all, after years passed and I realized she wouldn't change, I felt so sorry for her - all those missed opportunities and the fun and excitement new experiences bring were lost to her.

Aside from the damage her fear of the unknown caused her, that fear also infected my sister, brother, and me. None of us is a risk taker and we walk through life very cautiously.

While I didn't have an epiphany, I experienced a growing realization over the past 10 or 15 years that I was letting my anxieties and worries over the maybes and might bes rule my life. I was becoming my mother.

A Bible verse instrumental in my climb out of the fear and worry pit is from 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." The spirit of FEAR is NOT from God. God gave me power, love, and a sound mind.

I do not have to let worry, uncertainty, and fear of the unknown rule over me, I have power. God said so. Constantly, I have to remind myself that stepping out into the unknown is good. No, I cannot control the world. Yes, bad things will happen sometimes. But God Is In Control. Nothing is going to happen to me that He doesn't already know about. He loves me. He will take care of me. Even if tragedy strikes, He will hold me up. I don't have to be afraid.

Freedom from fear, worrying, concern over change, the unknown, and all those other little demons that robbed my mother of a full life are not going to rob me. I choose to trust God and take Him at His word when He says I don't have to fear.

Image: Master isolated images/freedigitalphotos.net

Peaches and Beaches at the Wednesday Hodgepodge

Happy Wednesday everyone! Isn't Wednesday a great day of the week? Monday is a distant memory and Friday is within sight. Come join me and lots of other fun people at Joyce's place, From This Side of the Pond for the latest installment of Wednesday Hodgepodge.

1. The first week of August is National Simplify Your Life Week...what's one thing you could do this week to qualify as a participant?
That's easy, toss out most of my clothes and then move into a tent. Seriously, I continually re-examine my life and surroundings in the desire to declutter and simplify my life. I am always thrilled to add one more item to my ever-present bag of donations.

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2. It's also National Peach Month...peach pie, peach cobbler, or please pour me a Bellini?  What's your peach pleasure?
My peach pleasure is fresh and juicy right off the tree.

3. Eleanor Roosevelt once wrote, "Do one thing every day that scares you." Agree or disagree...explain.
I think this is a great piece of advice. Overcoming fears and challenging ourselves to try something new are great ways to grow.

4. What's your favorite household chore?  Yes-you have to name one.

I would have to say cleaning the bathrooms. They're small so they don't take too much time, and there is a sense of instant gratification because they shine and smell so fresh when you've finished.

5. Fodors recently listed (what they've dubbed) the ten most beautiful sunset spots in America. Click here to read more and see the pretty pictures, but this is their list:

Butterfly Beach in Santa Barbara, CA, Mount Haleakala in Maui HI, Old Fort Marcy Park in Santa Fe NM, Laguna Beach CA, Hopi Point in Grand Canyon AZ, Four Seasons in Miami FL, Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica CA, Gay Head in Martha's Vineyard MA, Ensign Peak in Salt Lake City UT, and Mallory Square in Key West Florida.

Have you seen the sun set from any of these spots?  If you could choose to watch the sun set this weekend from one spot on the Fodors List, which would you choose?  Where was the prettiest sunset you've ever seen?
Unfortunately, I've never seen the sunset at any of these places - although we used to live fairly near Butterfly Beach. I would choose to see the sunset there because I love Santa Barbara, CA. I don't remember the prettiest sunset I've ever seen, but saw many incredible sunsets at the beach when we lived in Ventura, CA.

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6. What's your favorite or most used app?  If you don't use apps how about your favorite or most visited website?
Call me a weather geek if you must, but my favorite is the Accuweather app.

7. We've recently passed the halfway mark for 2013...write a seven word sentence that sums up your year thus far. 
2013, an ongoing whirlwind roller coaster ride.

8.  Insert your own random thought here.
My 19 year old son went in for allergy testing yesterday and is apparently allergic to everything. I think I am going to get the Worst Mother of the Decade Award for not taking him to an allergist sooner.

Bouncing Back Up

Kids aren't afraid to fall. They do it all the time.

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Wobbling toddler on fat little legs tumbles and tumbles again, but rises up to try once more. Walking the plank like a pirate, down he goes in the make believe sea, but swims to shore and walks the plank again. Daredevil motorcyclist flies down the hill and over the handlebars of her two-wheeler. A few bumps scrapes and tears, but she bikes back up the hill undefeated.

Where can we learn as many life lessons as from the examples children set us? Before the sense of mortality comes upon them, they are brave, invincible. No defeat is too overwhelming. No loss can't be recoverable. No fall keeps them on the ground. Their determination and optimism break through the clouds of discouragement, and what ifs, and I can'ts.

Maybe this is yet another way Jesus wants us to be like little children.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community.

Trust

Welcome to 5 Minute Friday.  This week's word is Trust.

In God We Trust.  Or so it says on U.S. coins.  A strong, profound, planting both feet on the ground statement.  But do we really mean it on a personal level?

If we truly trust God, we won't worry, be anxious, stay up sleepless at night fussing and fuming over this decision or that.  If we truly trust God, we will put aside our fears, anxieties and worries, close our eyes and go to sleep.

If we truly trust God, we will have a heart of peace knowing that our lives are not spinning out of control, but are perfectly IN control ... just not our control.  Are we willing to live with that?  Are we willing to give up the control over our lives, circumstances and decisions and really, truly trust God to work on our behalf?

It's a bold step to say and mean In God I Trust.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3.Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them.

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