The Worry List

Kolleen Lucariello never fails to peak my interest between her humorous perspective on life and practical applications from daily experiences. In this Attitude UPGRADE she reminds us there is a great, biblical cure for worrying.

"The room was silent," Kolleen says. "The small lump in the center of the enormous bed across the room lay motionless. It had been a full day and I sensed my muscles relaxing as my body began to enter a well-deserved rest.

"Then the small lump spoke, 'Miiiiiimmmiiiiiii….'

That sure got my (Dawn’s) attention! Was something wrong? Scary?

Kolleen continues . . .

Our six-year-old grandson had been assigned the extra bed in Papa and Mimi’s room while we vacationed together. After hours at the water park, it was now time to say goodnight and rest up for the next day's adventures.

His words broke the silence. “Miiiimiiii, I'm just having a hawrd time falling asleep.”

“Why is that?” I asked.

“Well, it’s just that I have a whoarry list in my mind with about eight things on it that I can’t stop thinking about.”

I listened as one-by-one he began to list them. 

• First on the list was the fear he might lack self-control.
• Next came worry of the not–good–enough kind.
• Number three was the worry he would never become the best football player of all time. He was worried that his Uncle Jeff thought less of him because he had missed a few catches when they’d played football together that day.

It was difficult for me to suppress a few chuckles as he made his way through his list of worries.

I, of course, have the benefit of age which allows me to recognize his list of worries now would be different than his list of future worries. Even so, I took his worries seriously.

Why? Because I recognized a few similarities between his list and my own.

When he finished, I said, “Okay, now let’s turn your worry list into a prayer list.”

From Worries to Prayers

1. We began praying for self-control.

I assured him that regardless of our age, everyone struggles to maintain control of self. This will require a lifetime of reliance upon Jesus.

As I listened to him articulate the reason for his worry, it occurred to me how the loss of self-control can lead a person into embarrassment or even humiliation.

In an instant, I was transported back to a few I-wish-I-hadn’t-said-that moments when my failure to employ self-control over my tongue led to embarrassment for me—and others.

Wise Solomon wasn’t joking when he wrote, “your mouth can ruin everything” (Proverbs 13:3b NLT). On the flip side, he said, “Those who control their tongue will have a long life” (13:3a).  

2. We prayed for patience as we grow in the abilities God has given us—at every age and stage.

It doesn’t matter if we are six, 26, 56 or 86, God has given us talents, and we have the potential to fulfill a purpose for Him.

God filled the grandson of Hur with “the Spirit of God, giving him great wisdom, ability, and expertise in all kinds of crafts” (Exodus 31:3 NLT). He was “a master at every craft!” (vs.5).

Does that mean he didn’t need to develop it? Doubtful. But it sounds like he, and others with him, served God by using their talent as instructed.

3. We also prayed for God to help us both break the habit of assuming we know what people are thinking.

He had convinced himself that he knew what Uncle Jeff thought of his athletic ability with no confirmation his assumptions were correct.

Oh, my heart! He’s too young to create his own account of what someone may, or may not, be thinking about him, I thought.

First, we create narratives based upon our own insecurities, opinions, or point of view.

Then we insist others must be thinking exactly as we are.

Overthinking creates worry.

No need to worry what others may be thinking when we accept that we all miss a few catches, right?

With the conversation between Grandmother and Grandson complete, stillness filled the room, and I heard the deep breathing of a six-year-old at rest.

He was able to rest physically because he had put his worry list to rest mentally.

It is likely we’d ALL sleep a little more soundly by taking a rest from our worry lists.

This was Paul’s instruction in his letter to the Philippians, and it is ours now:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done” (Philippians 4:6 NLT).

Don't worry . . . pray!

What keeps you awake at night? Turn your worry list into your prayer list and then thank God for all He has done.

Kolleen Lucariello, #TheABCGirl, is the author of #beYOU: Change Your Identity One Letter at a Time and is the Co-Director of Activ8Her, Inc. She is passionate to every woman realize her identity in Christ and live accordingly. Kolleen and her hubby, Pat, make their home in Central New York. She’s the mom of three grown children and Mimi to six incredible grands. For more information about Kolleen, visit www.speakkolleen.com. 

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Clkr-Free Vector-Images at Pixabay.