The Adult Card
Opie is the quintessential big brother. He loves to boss Calvin around and remind Calvin of his inferior status as the youngest, which -of course- drives Calvin into a blinding fury. Opie is continually telling Calvin what to do and how to do it, what not to do and why he shouldn't, and what he can't do because OPIE says so.
Opie is also a worrier. He is concerned with every detail around him: What time is it? Are we late? Do you know how to get there? When does Daddy work? Is there enough money? How is my teacher going to do that? What if the polar ice caps melt? It's enough to drive a mom crazy.
Several months ago, when I had listened to all that I could take, I looked Opie squarely in the eye and said, "I'm revoking your Adult Card."
He looked at me quizzically, thinking I had lost my mind. "My Adult Card?" he asked.
"Yep," I responded. "Your Adult Card has been revoked. You don't get to be an adult anymore today. You have to just be a kid and leave the adult stuff to the adults, okay?" He grinned at me. The point I was making had sunk in.
It's become part of our family shorthand now, the revocation of the Adult Card. It helps my kids remember that they are not the ones in charge, nor do they need to worry over things out of their control. There are times when it is best to let Mom and Dad deal with the load that comes with being an adult.
A few weeks ago, I was fretting over something that I really had no control over, yet I couldn't seem to stop it from dominating my thoughts. I worried and I turned it over in my mind, yet I knew that there was really nothing I could do about it. As I lay in bed with my mind racing, Psalm 46:10 popped into my head: "Be still and know that I am God..." Right there in the darkness, I smiled. Essentially, God had told me, I'm revoking your God Card.
I wonder how many times a day God feels like saying that to me. Stop worrying about it, Gina. I'm in control. Don't let that bother you, Gina, I'm working it for your good. Let me be the judge of the situation, Gina, not you. Remember, Gina: I'm God. You're not.
Matthew 6:34 says "Take no thought for tomorrow...sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (KJV) The Message translation says it a little differently: "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
This past week has been a HUGE exercise in this for our family as we waited to find out if my husband was going to have a job or not. It was stressful and scary, yet through most of it, I had a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control of things. And as I went through the moments of doubt and fear and anger, God simply wrapped his grace around me and said, "Child, your God Card is revoked. Let me handle it."
It's good to know.
Opie is also a worrier. He is concerned with every detail around him: What time is it? Are we late? Do you know how to get there? When does Daddy work? Is there enough money? How is my teacher going to do that? What if the polar ice caps melt? It's enough to drive a mom crazy.
Several months ago, when I had listened to all that I could take, I looked Opie squarely in the eye and said, "I'm revoking your Adult Card."
He looked at me quizzically, thinking I had lost my mind. "My Adult Card?" he asked.
"Yep," I responded. "Your Adult Card has been revoked. You don't get to be an adult anymore today. You have to just be a kid and leave the adult stuff to the adults, okay?" He grinned at me. The point I was making had sunk in.
It's become part of our family shorthand now, the revocation of the Adult Card. It helps my kids remember that they are not the ones in charge, nor do they need to worry over things out of their control. There are times when it is best to let Mom and Dad deal with the load that comes with being an adult.
A few weeks ago, I was fretting over something that I really had no control over, yet I couldn't seem to stop it from dominating my thoughts. I worried and I turned it over in my mind, yet I knew that there was really nothing I could do about it. As I lay in bed with my mind racing, Psalm 46:10 popped into my head: "Be still and know that I am God..." Right there in the darkness, I smiled. Essentially, God had told me, I'm revoking your God Card.
I wonder how many times a day God feels like saying that to me. Stop worrying about it, Gina. I'm in control. Don't let that bother you, Gina, I'm working it for your good. Let me be the judge of the situation, Gina, not you. Remember, Gina: I'm God. You're not.
Matthew 6:34 says "Take no thought for tomorrow...sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." (KJV) The Message translation says it a little differently: "Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."
This past week has been a HUGE exercise in this for our family as we waited to find out if my husband was going to have a job or not. It was stressful and scary, yet through most of it, I had a peace that comes from knowing that God is in control of things. And as I went through the moments of doubt and fear and anger, God simply wrapped his grace around me and said, "Child, your God Card is revoked. Let me handle it."
It's good to know.