Of Whom Shall I Be Afraid?

Why?

Kris took this picture which obviously doesn't match the title, but it was one of the parts of this day.

And it's one of the reasons I scratch my head every day. Do we really need to tell the culprit to throw away the old roll? The culprit is either 11 years old or almost 10. Both plenty old enough to know how to throw away trash.

I'm enduring the whining and crying of a child after 11:00 tonight. Guess who is staying off screens for the rest of the week?

I have a tender, mother's heart when it's necessary. Then I become a hard-nosed, drill sergeant when the monkey business has gone on long enough. I hate having to be so hard, but what else am I going to do?

It's hard to remain calm when someone around me is going berserk and just needs the cartoon smack in the face to return to reality. No smacking here, just major frustration.

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The child who is the subject of the previous paragraphs has calmed down finally.

I'm not totally insensitive: I was able to read Psalm 23 and 27 in the hallway where both children could hear and answer some questions they had.

Later, I heard one of them praying out loud to calm down, giving all his/her anxieties to the Lord... which is what we said to do from the start.

I love hearing the prayers of my children. Their heart shines through when the words fail. God knows what they mean and hears them.

Psalm 27 was a random chapter I found just now when I was looking for a good bit of reading for my fretful worrier. It actually turned out to be just what all of us needed to hear.

The first verse addresses the fear that was gripping my child: "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?"

What comfort that is!

We all face fears and worries. We face troubles. Our country faces troubles.

Kal wondered what would happen if some of his fears became reality. My answer to him was that:

1. God would still be God;

2. God would still be good;

3. And God would still provide for our needs.

Life has ups and downs and all-arounds, but God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Of whom shall I be afraid?