I just sent my two oldest (3 and 2) with my mom to the movies. It's a 30 minute drive in unfamiliar territory for my her. While I trust her driving (heck, I survived 16+ years of it), I had one of those thoughts: "What if they never come back?" I don't think that when my husband goes to work. I didn't really even think that when my brother went to serve our country in a war zone. But that thought flitted through my head just now and I had to remember "Be anxious for nothing".
Aside on worry: I don't think that moms who are cautious are worriers. I think it's a God-given instinct that we think streets and heavy machinery can be dangerous and that water and open flames pose a hazard. We are protective of our children when there is a potential threat... this is normal. It's not normal to be gripped with fear.
Every translation says it slightly differently, but I like the English Standard Version of Philipians 4:6.
do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
I have to admit. I've had to remind myself of that a lot lately... way more than usual. I met a gal a few months ago. She was holding her fourth child and I was holding my fourth child. Her little boy was 11 weeks old. My little boy was 4 weeks old. Just like me, her oldest is a boy followed by two girls and then a baby boy. We had a great conversation about life with four. We even "friended" one another on FaceBook.
Then, the unthinkable. I received word that her little guy died of SIDS when he was 4 months old. I still tear up (actually, I cry big tears) when I think about it. Why do things like that happen? My heart aches for her and her family. Then I get selfish and I think, is there anything I can do to prevent it from happening at my house?
My baby boy, Joel, is the sweetest, most content baby you've ever seen. He eats and sleeps very predictably throughout the day and even sleeps through the night. I feel like I know him very well: he doesn't like to have a wet diaper, he only poops every 6 days, he likes it when Mommy sings, and he loves his sister Jenna (she's 14 mos older). But since that happened to my new friend, I have checked on his breathing every day when it seems like he's napped too long. I watch for the rise and fall of his little chest in the mornings too. And I have to consciously tell myself, "Be anxious for nothing" two or three times every day.
It's the last part of that encouragement (maybe admonition) from Paul that I don't always heed:
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
I am so grateful for every moment I have with each of my children. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of life and the privilege of motherhood. But my request today: continue to heal my friend's broken heart.
