Learning to Self-Soothe

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27 ESV

“Within you, there is a stillness and a sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself.” —Hermann Hesse

We learn to self-soothe as infants with a favorite blanket, rocking or (gasp!) sucking our thumb. My son, many years ago at about two years of age, needed surgery for a runaway cyst in his throat. It was a very minor birth defect that showed up as a red lump in the middle of his throat but could erupt at any time. The surgery went fine but my little guy was grumpy, in pain, and scared of all the noise and activities at the hospital. However, he had a favorite blanket. I was soooo embarrassed to bring it to the hospital because it was full of holes, definitely unsanitary and very faded. But the grumpy guy wanted it bad!  Over and over the word blanket was shouted, whispered, and cried throughout the halls of the hospital. So, I sucked up my pride, brought him his blanket, and hoped the nurses didn’t see this rag. He perched himself stubbornly in a little, red wagon, courtesy of the hospital, and there he stayed, blanket and all, until it was time for him to come home.

We still need to self-soothe. Yes, we’re adults but we’re also children of God.  Unfortunately, we don’t always have self-soothe in mind when we’re in the middle of an argument for the tenth time, the boss calls us into his office with the door closed, or one more stuck-in-traffic commute drains all hope from our soul. How do we soothe ourselves? We can’t grab a blanket or a bubble bath. We’re in the middle of it!

Refamiliarize yourself with your favorite moment, person or experience.  A wonderful, God-filled picture of pure peace just for you. Some picture the 23rd Psalm. Some hold an image of a favorite grandparent, pet or flower. Whatever brings you peace. Grab it. Hold on. Don’t let go. And breathe. My go-to when stressed is visualizing autumn, with the earthy smell of leaves, blazing color, and vibrant blue sky. A touch of Paradise!

Musings

No matter how stressful or fearful the situation, Our Father has gifted us with something special, soothing, and peaceful to bring us back to the moment with peace. When I read the quote by Vicktor Frankl, held hostage in a Nazi German war camp, I’m brought up short: “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way” — Man’s Search for Meaning.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for the many, many comforts you give us in the middle of this upside-down world. Thank you for your Word that offers comfort, blessings and promise. Help us to visit a peaceful place in the middle of turmoil and to remember Jesus’ words, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives.”

Amen.

Help the Hurting Through the Holidays

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.” Psalm 9:9-10 NIV

“Trauma is perhaps the most avoided, ignored, belittled, denied, misunderstood, and untreated cause of human suffering.” Dr. Peter Levine

There is no such thing as going back to normal after tremendous losses: No. Such. Thing.

Death of a loved one

Victim of a crime

War

Bankruptcy

Career loss

Terminal/chronic illness

Addiction

Natural disasters

Divorce – children suffer too

Abuse

If you want to help someone who has experienced a tremendous loss, let’s bust some common and harmful things right now!

Quoting scripture: Band-Aids on an amputation and dismissive. Scripture is wonderful and true but that’s not what’s needed right away. Please. It just adds salt to the wound. For instance, the hurting person will hear: “If you were a better Christian… If you just had faith…” Don’t. Just don’t. They need “companioning.” Be with them. Assure them you’re there.

“He’s with God now.” This means making God the villain of another’s loss. This leaves the bereaved suffering and feeling even lonelier and hopeless—”Even God has left me and taken my loved one.”

“At least you have other children.” One of the most cruel things to say and it hurts the children still alive. No one can be replaced. If you lost your leg and someone said, “Well, at least you have another leg,” how would you feel? Again, dismissive and hard.

“God never gives you more than you can handle.” This one drives me nuts! It was used when I was caring for my husband with Lewy body dementia. My Father did not give this! He is not the author of disease!  He did not give my husband dementia. The Liar and Murderer did. But God can handle everything and promises to help. God knows I couldn’t handle this, so prayer, wise and caring friends, and support groups are essential. He wants to help and rescue—sometimes through others and sometimes through the Spirit.   Paul frequently healed others but it was Luke, a gentile doctor, who attended to Paul’s wounds. (See Acts.)

“Well, at least he’s still with you.” Wrong, wrong, wrong again! I lost pieces of my hubby day after day after day.  He died daily. Those with spouses, children, or relatives with an addiction lose them piece-by-piece, day-after grueling day. Always on alert for the next disaster. Ask a dementia caregiver or parent with an addicted child. Are they really with you? Did you lose pieces of yourself along the journey?

“Well, at least you have each other.” How many hurricane survivors are jumping for joy on that one? They lost their entire fortunes, homes, mental health, faith, and much more. It may be true they have each other, but the shock settles in. Their way of life is gone! Their friends are gone! Their church building is gone. More grueling days, months, or years ahead with financial ruin.

AND THE MOST HURTFUL ONE EVER!!!!

Everything happens for a reason: Yes, yes it does. Here’s the reason: Evil in this world. This world is not our home. Remember when Job lost everything and his friends visited him and grieved with him? They were a comfort until they opened their mouths and decided Job must have done something wrong to have the tragedies he experienced. Remember Job was a righteous man beloved by God. Don’t hurt a person’s conscience and heart with this one.

Please do this…

Prayer, arms, listening ears, running errands, a homemade meal, or a personal gift can lift the hurting and give hope. Say validating things like: “This is really tough! You are going through a nightmare. What can I do to help you? Tell me more.” And listen. Be an Empathetic Witness. Ask our Father to open our hearts to see theirs. Jesus said many times, “What can I do for you?” Then he did it. We need to follow his way.

Musings

It’s so sad and destructive the trite sayings we trot out to those with agonizing losses. I’ve been guilty. We do this because we feel awkward or afraid we’re next. But Jesus showed us a much better way: Ask. Validate. Affirm your love. Companion. Love.

Prayer

Dear Father,

We are to weep with those who weep. We all will weep one day. We don’t want to be “Sunshine Christians” who only believe and give when it’s easy and nice. Help us to be “Sonshine Christians.”

With thanks, we go onward with your grace, transformation, love, and hope.

Amen.

Sacrifice of Thanksgiving

“I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.” Psalm 116:17 NLT

“Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God toward you in Christ Jesus.” I Thessalonians 5:18 Berean Bible

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.” Meister Eckhart

Sometimes giving thanks really is a sacrifice, even during this wonderful Thanksgiving time. If it depends on feelings, it won’t get done. If it depends on circumstances, it won’t get done. If it depends on making time, it won’t get done. And giving thanks requires discipline—a daily, minute-by-minute consciousness. It heals, eventually, too. Thanksgiving is not just a holiday. It’s a spiritual discipline. It’s Thanksgiving every day.

Every day there is something to be thankful for. Do we thank the Father when things are good, or after rescue?

I went to the eye doctor the other day and after my examination, the doctor and I discussed some troublesome results. I could be getting macular degeneration and we need to keep a close watch on this. Some lifestyle changes like more fruits, exercise, and supplements may slow it way down. I’m on it!

But here’s the deal. How many times have I thanked God for my gift of sight? You can bet I do now. So many gifts are taken for granted. My eyes have been opened (no pun intended) to even more blessings because of my gift of sight and oh how I treasure them! The autumn colors in my little town, the smiles from the cashiers at my grocery store, and the beautiful book I read during my morning devotions. The faces of my children and grandchildren could become a blurry fog to me.  How I pray I don’t lose my sight. How I pray to not be a burden on others. Losing my driving privileges is so scary – taken for granted. All from a disturbing eye examination. Poof! Reality! I am not alone in taking for granted our many gifts.

My mind wandered back to the blind man in the Bible and Jesus asked him, “What can I do for you?” If he asked me, of course, I’d answer the same as this blind man, “My eyesight.” With more thought, though, Jesus did everything for me and even though my circumstances are disturbing and my heart is afraid, my answer would be a simple thank you. It’s going to be okay.

Musings

Giving thanks when one is grieving, in pain, ill, homeless, addicted, and many of the “Biggies” of life feels like a sacrifice. And it truly is. The good and healing truth is we’re not required to give thanks for the evil and destructive circumstances that come to all in this life but to give thanks in all circumstances. God doesn’t, never will, and never has given us evil. We may not feel thankful. We may not understand our circumstances. We may squirm, try to breathe, and cling to our faith in these painful times but the truth is, Jesus did do everything for us. The extras are gifts and we are grateful for these too.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for all you’ve given and done for us. We can list all that we have to be thankful for and the list is still incomplete.

Thank you for each other. Thank you for giving us what we need this day. Thank you for even our breath. Thank you for some wants too. You truly give abundantly beyond all that we can ask or think.

We come to you in a thankful spirit regardless of the circumstances. Every day is a gift. Every day is an opportunity to love. Every day is a challenge to overcome with You at the helm. Like Peter amid the stormy sea, we cry, “Help us.” And as Peter later said, “Cast all your anxieties because he cares for you.”

Thank you.

Amen.

Love is Free But It Ain’t Cheap

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13:1 NIV

“If love is to be a blessing, not a misery, it must be for the only Beloved who will never pass away.”— C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

The hardest lesson to learn is love, yet, it is the only thing that matters here and for eternity. The second hardest lesson in love is that it isn’t just emotions—passion may be there–but love acts lovingly even when the feeling is absent.

I remember taking the marriage vow, “for better or worse, for richer or poorer.” Passion and excitement covered the hard reality of what the vow meant. It meant spending almost every dollar on medical expenses, spending sleepless nights cleaning up vomit and blood, and giving up a career I loved. I did what was the loving thing through humiliation, tears and fear. Many of you have done the same for your children, families and friends.

Love ain’t cheap. But it’s the only thing that lasts. It’s the only thing that saves. Remember: God is Love. Love is a Person.

Everybody gets the lesson. The young have problems, the middle-aged have problems, and the old have problems. The rich, the poor, and the famous have problems. We all have problems with love. All problems are based on love: absence of love, dysfunctional love, or just no clue while scrambling for a fake image of it in the wrong places and persons. Sometimes we feel there isn’t enough love to go around. There is. Love is not a pie cut into pieces.

The lesson has a test. We can study, prepare, and practice, but love is still not easily learned. We have an example: Jesus. In Job, Job states how blessed he will be after he is tested by fire like gold. Love.

Love costs. Time. Money. Ego. Sleep. A teenager past curfew is a harrowing experience.

Baby steps. Just for today, I will be kind. Promise yourself this and watch what happens. Usually, someone who is very difficult will show up. A snarky customer service rep, a snoopy neighbor, or an arrogant politician will be right before you. And Jesus died for them because He loved them. Self-awareness shows how difficult just being kind can be! Hope: Romans 5 where God lavishly pours out His love for us through the Holy Spirit. We have plenty of love to give. The Father will fill it as soon as you pour out your love.

Musings

90 days of Praise was recommended to me for a coworker I had been struggling with. She was flighty, passive-aggressive, and treated me like she wanted to treat her absent mom. Through gritted teeth with prayer, I pointed out her strengths: excellent people skills, creative problem-solving, and an optimistic spirit. Did it take? Yes. Right away? No. And through it all, I was the one who changed first. By the way, this person is now one of my beloved friends. Love is patient.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Your Son demonstrated perfect love on the cross. May we start today with grace and humility, loving others as ourselves. Show us how to love each person we encounter, including ourselves, with thanksgiving.

Amen.

Angry Words

Who is right or What is Right?

“An angry person starts fights; a hot-tempered person commits all kinds of sin.” Proverbs 29:22 NLT

“Discussions are always better than arguments because an argument is to find out who is right and a discussion is to find out what is right.” Aspiring Quotes

Time-out. That’s how I would discipline my son when he was mouthy or refusing to do his chores. The time-out was for me too. If I didn’t sit down and reflect, I would say things I didn’t mean, spew threats like grounding him until he was 30 years-old and relentlessly criticize my lack of parenting skills. Yes, it happened—more times than I can count. But with practice, parents get lots of practice, and we could get to the bottom of the problem without drama, name-calling or tears.

Arguments happen at work, the grocery store, the church, and much to my dismay, in our governments. Emotional explosions happen frequently with little to no helpful resolve. Would we send these people to their rooms for self-reflection and attitude adjustments? James says that someone who controls his tongue is a perfect man able to rule cities. But (sigh) our only control is self-control with the much-needed help from the Father. Prayer is quick sometimes while we breathe and count to ten or 100. We don’t want to commit all kinds of sins because of hot-headedness! Then the situation becomes worse—much worse. Through His word and the Holy Spirit, the Father wants our discussions to focus on the What, not the Who.

Musings

Paul Tripp wrote this and I find it very helpful: “How you treat your spouse is an opportunity to share the gospel. How you raise your kids is a forum for evangelism. How you do tasks and maintenance around the house or yard—and offering to serve your neighbor at the same time, for example—is a chance to put the sacrificial life of Christ on display.” What a tremendous responsibility! And it glorifies the Father. Actions do speak louder than words.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thanks are not enough for all the arguments and angry words Your grace has covered. We commit to do better and then someone tempts us to anger and our resolve disappears. Help us carve out time to reflect and obtain wisdom for the What and not the Who.

Help us, with thanks, to remember all we do reflects Your Son.

Amen.

The Little Things

“A fool always loses his temper, But a wise person holds it back.” Proverbs 29:11 NASB

“No matter what type of anger or frustration we have to struggle with, a clear picture of how our faith in God is the answer to anything we need to overcome.” – Carol Graham

Small things don’t matter until you’re in bed with a buzzing mosquito! Or death by a thousand paper cuts. Familiar?

They say, “It’s the little things that matter.” It’s true. The little treasures and gifts of the day like praise, hugs, losing a couple of pounds, or a special card in the mail boosts our spirits.

It’s the little things that can ruin our day too.

Frustration is those annoying, itching, biting mites interfering with our goals, rest and peace. It’s so remarkable that people can handle catastrophes, tragedies, and pain better than the daily nits that poke at us. An urgent phone call in the middle of a meeting, a child throwing up in class, or a flat tire on the way to work are those little bugs that throw the whole day out of kilter. Worse, our attitude goes down the drain and it spreads.

Control. I have, once again, fooled myself into thinking I have it. The big obstacles of life are so hard, it’s true, but we give ourselves grace and admit we do not have control over life and death, tornadoes, or floods. We pray. We give ourselves a bit of compassion. We seek assistance. We pray for each other. More importantly, we get back up, dust ourselves off, thank the Father, and start again. It’s the same for the little, annoying, and frustrating things. Life is so full of these! And many times throughout our day. Right now I have a very old cat, she’s 23 or 24 years old, and she gets disoriented and yowls in a panic. Yep, another thing to bug me. But how many years of pleasure has she given me? A flat tire once saved me from a messy accident.

Musings

The termites, mites, paper cuts, gnats and bugs of life. These are what cripple our spiritual walk and our joy. The daily “what nows” of life humble us. The belief that we should have control and do have control over the little annoyances deceives us. Perhaps, that’s the point. Let’s start all over again… With grace. They are small things compared to the eternal picture.

Prayer

Dear Father,

Thank you for your wisdom, grace, and counsel in the big and the little things. We consider little things annoyances and frustrations, but they are the daily disciplines of being more like your Son. Sometimes they are blessings in disguise. No matter what happens today, you are with us and we can joyfully, and with a bit of humor and humility, have a good day. Jesus took the world as it is. We need to do this too.

Amen.

Construction: Never Finished

Under Construction

“Give your complete attention to these matters. Throw yourself into your tasks so that everyone will see your progress. Keep a close watch on how you live and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right for the sake of your own salvation and the salvation of those who hear you.” 1 Timothy 4:15-16 NLT

“Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” Akshay Dubey

Road construction! It’s everywhere this time of year because I live in a cold climate and winter is brutal on the highways and roads. And so annoying! Detours, potholes, lines of vehicles for miles, dusty, dirty, smelly asphalt with hot and grumpy road crew pointing where to drive next. The child in the back seat is grumpy, thirsty, and needs to go “potty.” Sigh…

We’re under construction too. Hopefully, not dusty, dirty or grumpy. There are no days off for us in the Kingdom. Even when resting we are to keep our minds on what’s above. Our Journey has lots of detours, pitfalls and potholes, delays and discouragements. This is what it takes to become more like the Son. Others are under construction too. We’re told in James that if we can control our tongue we are a “Perfect Person.” They’re as rare as unicorns, fairies or a tax refund! Or, a summer day without road construction.

That’s why we have each other. Sometimes we limp together, sometimes we cheer each other on, sometimes we pray together and sometimes grieve together. We learn to love each other as the other needs. We learn perseverance. We learn endurance. We learn (here’s my all-time favorite) patience. We learn acceptance. We learn to depend on the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

With Grace. Lots of it. The Bible reminds us that “He richly pours his grace on us.” And we need it!  Let’s remember when things get tough, we’re all Under Construction.

Musings

We need a sense of humor, along with grace when dealing with our potholes and detours. May we not take such aggravations and setbacks so seriously. Maybe, just maybe, they’re opportunities to reach our potential with kindness.

Prayer

Dear Father,

We pray for grace and patience but avoid situations that provide these. Thank you for giving us what we need and not necessarily what we want. We may not feel that way today but we have learned from You, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to “Enter by the Narrow Gate.”

Amen.

We Are All Beginners at Something

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 NLT

“Change is hard at the beginning, messy in the middle and gorgeous at the end.” — Robin Sharma

Why, oh why do we feel shame if we are a beginner? Babies learning to walk don’t feel shame, some bumps and bruises along the way, and they fall many times before they run. Learning to ride a bicycle was daunting in my childhood, yet I persisted and soared through forests, bumpy dirt roads, and grassy vacant lots. Then I tackled ice skating. Ouch! I had no embarrassment or shame in learning to play a game, the computer, driving. I did as I got older and someone saw me struggling. The focus was taken off the activity and onto me. When did it become shameful to become a beginner? I made many mistakes as a widow. I’ve never been a widow before. When I became a manager, I made mistakes. I’d never managed before. I was quitting destructive behaviors. I’d never done that before. In fact, harmful behaviors are quite easy to pick up. Well, except when I started smoking and had to smoke a pack till I was nauseous, dizzy and green.

We are all new at something for the rest of our lives. Old? Yep. You’ve never been old before. Married? Yep. Never done that before. And if you’re remarried, you’ve never been married to that particular person before. New job? Yep. New people and skills to sharpen our education. Grace, loads and loads of it, is needed in all beginning situations.  We’re all beginners at something.

What to do?

Musings

Show up!!!  Take a class, ask a friend or mentor for help, read a book, do an online search, and ask God for wisdom and courage. You’ll still fumble at first. But every day you show up, you’re making progress. Sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly. Drop the embarrassment and if someone teases you, you can bet they’re new at something too. Say a quick prayer for the outlier and put your focus on Him. The One who does all and is all. Struggle. We all have messy beginnings and middles, but the ending will be something when we’re with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Prayer

Father,

We were new when we became a part of your family with failures, sins, and regrets intact. You welcomed us anyway with singing and celebration.

Being new at anything in this world is humbling, and scary, and requires patience, discipline and trust. Hold back our shame in being a beginner. Help us to accept that we all, from infants to the very old, are learning new things. Help us to be kind and understanding with the beginners in our lives. “Unless we become like children…”

Amen.

Authenticity Means Being Vulnerable

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” 1 John 4:18 NASB

“To love at all is to be vulnerable, love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.” C.S. Lewis – Four Loves

I love authentic people, not only are they easy and fun to be with, but they give me the courage to live authentically. They’re warm, inviting, graceful, joy-filled.  They are not perfectionists. I leave their presence feeling just a bit better. Enlarged. May we be courageous enough to do the same because…

We practice vulnerability.

And you will get hurt. You will be stunned. You will have a broken heart. You will be betrayed. You will be criticized and sometimes cruelly by spineless creatures on the Internet. Sometimes by our own family. Yet, we must love, authentically, or it’s not love. It could be some people-pleasing, approval-seeking, manipulative, codependent behavior. It’s making someone else responsible for my well-being, my sense of self, and validation. If that person disapproves, then I crumble.

There’s only one Person who can give us perfect love. And He waits for your invitation. He does not cross boundaries, threaten, or intimidate. He does it perfectly. Where is our treasure? Where is our self-image? What is our idea of success?  Don’t let another define you.

Musings

The most authentic, unassuming, validating Person I know is Jesus. From rabble-rousing fishermen, tax collectors, and prostitutes to imperfect me, He was and is real. He had no advantages. He grieved. He wept. No status. No sports cars. No designer clothes. No media platform. No agent. Yet, people were drawn to him. Changed with him. Loved him. Died for him. He experienced everything and more to be our Savior. He was perfect in love.

Prayer

Father,

Thank you that you have made us unique individuals with stewardship over the talents you’ve given. Help us to live authentically for that is the only way we can truly live and love. Love hurts sometimes. Your beloved son knows this. “For the joy set before Him, he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Thank you for joy and a life with all the ups, downs and in between to help us become authentic.

Amen.

Are You an Over Thinker?

Overthinking

“Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.” Colossians 3:2 NLT

“I think and think and think, I have thought myself out of happiness one million times, but never once into it.” – Jonathan Safran Foer

If there’s anything I do more than anything, it’s overthinking. The belief that the more I stew, ruminate, conjugate and review, the better the situation will be. Not true! I get higher blood pressure, stomachache, and a headache that dumps me into depression. It’s spinning my wheels. I feel like I’m getting somewhere, and I am, deeper and deeper in the mud.

Time to change my thoughts. Here’s some medicine. All medicine takes time to heal, but improvement comes with time and following instructions.

Antidote: Live in the present. The past is gone. The future is the Father’s.

Antidote: Will this be pleasing to God? Overthinking causes me to be cranky with my children, and colleagues while diminishing me—not in a humble way. Overthinking is a whirlpool of apprehension, self-loathing and paralysis. I’ve again replaced the Father and used prayer to continue in overthinking. It’s been said: “God plus one is a majority.” What will be pleasing to the Father? Faith. Trust. Honesty. Courage.

Antidote: What is this trying to teach me? Maybe it’s as simple as looking upward or seeking wise counsel. Sometimes it’s a procrastination battle—it’s unpleasant or scary. Sometimes it’s reaching out to another. The Father is concerned with our character and learning, living, and loving fully.

Antidote: Write it down. Get it all out! Then put it away for a day or two. We might find the problem was not a problem or our problem. Sometimes the problem we’re overthinking dissipates. Poof!

Antidote: Self-compassion. Is this working for our good? For others? When overthinking, it’s a whole lot of self-loathing and self-condemnation. A change of mind is in order. We change our minds several times a day and we can change it back to good.

Antidote: Exercise. Take a walk with your pet. Put some elbow grease into something annoying you like a dirty car or spot on the rug. Sweat it out on a bike or dance as if nobody is looking.

Maybe you can add to this list, but one thing is sure, overthinking is not useful, kind or positive. Asking for prayer helps more than we realize. Practicing looking upward is tough but so helpful.

Musings

We get caught up in overthinking while excusing it as critical thinking. Not so. Overthinking is an indulgence in procrastination and anxiety. We cannot hold two thoughts at the same time so we need to choose: Hopefulness or trapped. Optimism or pessimism. Faithfulness or control. Confidence or escape.

Prayer

Dear Father,

You gave us a brilliant mind to solve problems, make plans, overcome obstacles and grow. Help us to see where we need to consider and unravel situations and where we need to look up to You to take the helm.

May our thoughts immediately go to You: What are you trying to teach us? Will it be pleasing to You? Is it our problem to solve? We are promised perfect peace through Your Son.

With thanks,

Amen.