Grandparenting 101: Letting Go of Worry
A few weeks into our courtship, I recognized that Greg was a worrier. He seemed to become obsessed easily with thoughts of the "what ifs," and I remembered well how my dad used to do the same thing and how when I would talk to him in a soft tone, or just listen to him rather than arguing, he soon would become calm and quit worrying. I figured my training with Dad was ready to be put into practice with my new husband. It seemed to work for me to just sit close to him and talk softly while we were dating. However, after we got married, I realized it was going to take constant reminders of God’s provision and care for us to keep the "worry wart" calm.
Usually I would read to him from the scriptures – all the passages about worry – and we would pray together. I understood very well his tendencies to worry because of his upbringing. We both had been raised by worrying parents.
The reason I had overcome my worried state was that I had been through so much emotional turmoil that the "little things" didn’t cause me to be worried anymore. I do believe I had learned to turn it over to God and leave it there.
One night Greg woke me up and said he hadn’t been asleep yet because of worry. Once again I began to pray with him and speak softly about what God wanted to do in the situation if we would let Him. Then I thought to sing the song that Mom sang to me in times of doubt and worry, "You Are My Sunshine." Before I finished the song, Greg was fast asleep. Did my singing lull him to sleep or did he go to sleep to escape the sound? Either way, soft words, prayer and sometimes a song can help. Remembering that God is bigger than any problem we have is a sure-fire method for peaceful sleep.
The other night, we were babysitting Samantha, Adrian and Angelina and were putting them to bed (the first time we had done that). Samantha too began to worry and "be scared." We talked about God being near all the time and just how much he loves us and His protective angels are all around about us at every moment. Suddenly Samantha looked at me with her big dark eyes and said, "You mean we have angels like the angel that told Mary about Jesus?"
"Yes, Samantha," I said "We do."
She asked me to lie down beside her and I remembered how soothing I felt when my mom used to do that for me. I began to sing "You Are My Sunshine" and she immediately calmed down and was ready to go to sleep.
We never get too old to want the warmth of another next to us or feel the security of knowing we are totally in His care. As you begin the new year, think of your blessings and look around you to see who just might need your comfort.
Until next time, delight yourself in the Lord and in your grandchildren.