Matthew 6:25-34
Do Not Be Anxious
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?[a] 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
34 “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (emphasis mine)”
It is amazing some days how anxiety feeds on anxiety in the strangest of ways, isn’t it? Here is the best example I have experienced in the last few months:
I was working on completing Module 2 of the free Dementia course graciously made available by the University of Tasmania. (This course is still available until the first week of May, so hurry. I don’t get referral money from recommending this somehow, but it does make me happy to refer it.). I came along to the section that was discussing genetic mutations as a cause to a very specific, rare type of dementia. Innocently and flowing with cuteness, the presenters mixed it up a bit and did a stop-motion Lego presentation explaining just how rare this cause is. Here is what followed:
I will break some personal cybersecurity rules here by noting that, in this video the character:
1. Was named Alan Appleton. (My name is Mark Allen Applegate)
2. He was late 40’s, inside of the small window of likelihood for this type of dementia. (I am in my late 40s.)
3. His mom had the disease. (Duh)
4. It is all about genes. (Her middle name is Jean)
5. The genetic dementia: APP. (My last name is APPlegate)
I am a Christian. I am NOT superstitious. I don’t believe in fate, nor do I think things happen for no reason. These competing thoughts make this little video at least give me pause. Could God be using circumstances to prompt me to get a baseline brain study? Could He be just beckoning me to trust Him more? Could it not be coming from Him at all?
Just a couple thoughts on an oddball circumstance. 🙂
Mom had a good day yesterday. She was alert and only kind of anxious. She fed herself breakfast, but was fed the other two meals. She even played the piano a touch earlier before I got there. That is her first concerto in at least a month. 🙂 I hope to post a piano video soon. 😉
She is still fiddling with things a lot, but she was happy. She had her bra unhooked and wore it like that the whole time I was there…but she kept clothed. Note: We will renew our efforts to keep the fiddle blanket/cuffs around. They do really help her with her anxiety if a concrete way. It is quite amazing. Thank you again to Marshfield and West Plains senior centers (Eeeek…I hope I didn’t forget a third one! If I did, remind me and I will add your name here too…very helpful and thoughtful! )
As I was leaving yesterday, mom quietly asked my stepdad “Who is this guy next to me?”. He told her quietly and she was content with the idea, yet again. I don’t take it personally, nor do I ever. She knows I am in her tribe when I show up every single time and says something like “There he is!”. That is good enough for me. Typical day…tough joy with a dash or two of sadness. Welcome to the memory unit.
#EndALZ
Some things in life do, however, make you turn your head a tad. 🙂
