Hit Pause and Choose This Day

“So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.” Matthew 6:34 VOICE

Do you feel like you have woken up in a foreign world? I do. I spent the last four days in Birmingham, along with a morning adventure into Tuscaloosa, and that world is a world of beautiful southern women, gentle-men, labs lolling on the front porch and children’s toys waiting for them in the front yard. I was in heaven, despite the virus news that broke down the door and slowly streamed its way in. The sun was shining and the buds were breaking forth. Bees buzzed on the blueberry bushes at the side door. Let me say it again – heaven.

Returning home to Atlanta was a shock of reality as the ‘real world’ clamored for attention with closings and more closings as everyone complied with CDC recommendations and the news feeds and opinion articles found their way in.

My husband and I had already decided to forgo the gym over the next month and take daily walks instead. Maybelle was happy about that one. We had decided to not attend our invitation to finally see the Atlanta United this Saturday– but discovered the league had already postponed the game. Our pastor sent a humorous video announcing all services for the next three weeks would take place online. That works. And we talked to our daughter who had a huge job cancel to reassure her that this was not the days of the Zombie Apocalypse. We encouraged her to pack a tent and take advantage of this time together to do the things her family loves, like camping and fishing.

This morning after scanning through all the virus hysteria, I looked at my dear neighbor Hannah’s Facebook page. There were multiple links sharing wonderful things to do with kids; from online art programs to museum tours. Ah. A breath of fresh air!

We cannot control or change this situation of a contagious virus – but we do have control over how we approach each day. For me, this may be a good reminder to slow down a bit and change what I am seeing, what I am hearing, what I am doing. I can’t change this situation, but I can change my attitude. I can let go of my plans and consider different activities that keep all of us safe. I can take one day at a time.

I am writing this because I know how easily we can get wound up tight from listening to all the voices of fear out there in our big world. Close your world down. Listen to voices of calm. Reach out for peace. That voice of peace – for me – is God’s voice. Or the recorded words of Jesus. He started with this question, “Worrying does not do any good; who here can claim to add even an hour to his life by worrying?” (All of this can be found in the gospel of Matthew, Chapter 6:31-34)

Jesus pointed to the flowers in the field and reminded his listeners how perfectly God cared for them. He reminded them they didn’t need to hoard toilet paper. Seriously. Just look:

“So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don’t realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need.”

And then Jesus reassured them there was something more important to keep their thoughts on;

“Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today.”

For me, living faithfully – trusting that God cares about me and God knows what I need is what I want to keep my thoughts focused on. Absolutely nothing is accomplished by being afraid of tomorrow. I will not listen to the ones selling fear. I will listen to the One who freely gives me Peace.

And if you do not believe in this Christian God of peace, I will leave you with the words of one of my favorite southern belles, Scarlett O’Hara: “I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.” See, even Margaret Mitchell knew good advice when she heard it.

My friend Hannah has a song that will fill you with peace. It is written from the Father’s heart. “Come Rest”

Small StoriesGeorgia TannerMarch 14, 2020Comment