In Other Words: Think On These Things

 

Ican be one of those day dreamers – giving myself panic attacks thinking of the “what ifs”.  It happened a few days ago.  My husband is self-employed as a small engine repair mechanic.  Several times he has breathed too much exhaust, giving himself carbon monoxide poisoning.   He puts larger garden/lawn tractors on hoists, which he’s never had fall on him, yet, but I fear it.  His days can be busy with with phone calls, sales reps visits, customers coming to drop off/pick up items and his runnings about with pick-ups and deliveries and getting parts.  He will work very late at night in the shop on repairs.  There’s been several times I’ve fallen asleep hours before him to wake-up and he’s still not in bed.  That night, I woke up with a jolt – where was he?  I was so stricken with fear, afraid to call him on the speaker, so I walked out there, fearing the worst, holding my breath as I peered around the door.  He was fine, thankfully, but I was quite shaken up, literally, falling apart in tears.  My husband had lost track of time.  He didn’t joke about my getting worked up – but reminded me of this verse as he has often throughout our marriage with these specific verses.

My oldest son has that loud muffler on his truck that has irked me in the morning as he zooms off to work.  I’ve learned to pray for him when it wakens me.  Now he has a new loud noise to awaken me – a Honda Super Magna 750 – 86 hsp – in other words – a killer monster motorcycle.  He tells me how he was spending over $75 a week on gas for his truck, but then I hear him telling his friends how fast it goes.  Yes, I pray for him when I hear him leave, but then, by God’s grace, instead of dwelling on it, I block it from my mind.  I hear that still small voice reminding me – his days are numbered by Him, just as mine are.  

Our daughter who has had two open heart surgeries has gone much longer than expected without needing more surgeries, yet has frequent chest  pains.  Our Michigan humidity can be difficult for her breathing.  She’s recently gone through testing and though there appears to be no medical changes, I worry for the worst . . . the “what ifs”.  There’s my son with a new drivers’ license, the tornado-like weather here and then  there’s our pool – thinking of my friend Sue whose son drowned, making me shudder thinking of our baby who is walking now . . . Can you see the whirlwind of my brain not thinking of pure, lovely, true things?  Here’s another verse God reminds me through:

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ ~ II Corinthians 10:5

This is a work God is cultivating in my life right now, and has a way to go.  He shows me over and over again He indeed is in control.  Even when “I” think I’ve prayed for all the hedges to be around my family but I go out and put another board up “myself” instead of letting God, He reminds me, again, He IS in control and to think on, true, honest, pure, lovely things, of good report. 

I can be a slow learner, but I am learning to look more for the good reports and the things that praise God.  How about you?

 

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This week, Nina is hosting “In ‘Other’ Words” at her site, Mama’s Little Treasures. Be sure to visit her site and the links to the other women who have shared on this quote.
Be blessed.

~ by Loni on June 10, 2008.