Fretting

Last week, on an exceptionally crazy Tuesday morning in which we overslept and had the speech therapist coming at 9am, I cracked my Bible open to Psalm 37. (I've been trying to read the Word more than just my weekly personal study time at Panera, but haven't been very successful, so I put a Bible in the bathroom. Great trick! )

Anyway, I read the first seven verses which are pretty familiar when all of a sudden...BAM! The second part of verse 8 practically leaped off the page at me. Do not fret - it only causes harm. Ps. 37:8b

I had been fretting all morning, snapping at my kids, stressing out because the house wasn't clean enough for company, etc. I took that rebuke with me as I re-entered the fray. Each time I was about to open my mouth, that verse popped into my brain, causing my mouth to instantly shut. Don't fret - it only causes harm. Don't fret - it only causes harm.

I have kept it with me all week. Turns out, I spend about 75% of my day fretting, mostly in the form of unintentionally rhetorical questions:

• Who turned on the heat?!
• Who left the milk on the counter?!
• Who left the gate open?!
• How many times do I have to tell you to brush your teeth?!
• Do you want a time out?!
• Why don't you have any clothes on?!

These questions serve no purpose other than for me to feel better for having blurted them. No one will own up to the above and even if they did, it wouldn't solve the problem. It's simply fretting and it does no good. In fact, it causes harm.

My children feel guilty. I become unsafe to them as I storm around and fret. It increases my anger and frustration when no one confesses to the truth. It keeps me focused on myself.....my problems, my frustrations, my workload, etc.

Do not fret - it only causes harm. This verse is freeing up my time and my energy and allowing me to focus on that which is good. Praise God for His goodness in showing me His heart and in changing mine!