Don’t Worry, BE HAPPY

Problems and troubles don’t take a break just because the holiday season is upon us. Matter of fact, there seems to be MORE than the usual load of burdens lately. Sickness, separation, and sorrow have all paid recent visits to members of my own family and my congregation. I COULD be worried out of my noggin.

I could be worried, . . . but I’m NOT.

Instead, I am CHOOSING to follow the scriptural commandments found in Proverbs 3:5-6. It reads, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.”

By living by these words daily, I am buoyed in any crisis that may arise. Like the Weebles (anyone remember them?), I “wobble, but I don’t fall down.” Like Timex watches, I can “take a licking and keep on ticking.”

And if I can do it, ANY ONE can do it. Don’t believe me? Then try practicing this promise from God: “I can do ALL THINGS through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13).

If you’re under a load of cares and concerns, I encourage you not to worry about them. Instead, “in everything by prayer and supplication, let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God that passes all understanding will keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ” (Philippians 4:6-7).

So don’t worry, . . . BE HAPPY!

[Youtube]v=d-diB65scQU&feature=fvst[Youtube]

The RIPPLE Effect

So, as my spouse and I were having our daily walk this morning, we began talking about what I call “the Ripple Effect”. I know — most people refer to it as “the Butterfly Effect” (which, I concede, has a more marketable ring to it and is probably why there have been two movies so named. . . but I digress).

Anyway, the ripple/butterfly effect is that no one ever does anything that doesn’t have both immediate and long-term impact upon those near and far from him/her. For example, my father’s passing in 2001 (see “Gone But NEVER Forgotten” blog 7/9/09 and Lee Eric’s poem “Shoes”) left my mother alone. Our son moved from living with us in Oklahoma to Mississippi to be near her.

Shortly thereafter, my youngest brother Lee (who allows me to blog here) moved from Florida to be near her. Our daughter later moved from Oklahoma to attend college. Sensing Mississippi was where God wanted us to be, my wife and I migrated from Oklahoma as well.

From the progressive migration of the Smith clan back to our home state have come new jobs, marriages, births, grandchildren, and a ministry. Of course, we each made the every decision for ourselves, but it all began (directly or indirectly) with my father’s transition.

Now, of course, most of us don’t have any knowledge or control over the circumstances/date of our own deaths. Such control is wisely withheld from us. Still, we do exercise control over much of what happens to us in life.

This being a fact, the truth I post for consideration is this: we’re ALL connected by design. What we would like to think of as random occurences are actually predestined events intentionally meant to lead and direct us toward becoming who we are meant to be.

So, the next time you and I are about to embark upon some endeavor, we should consider that what we do (or don’t do) can and will have a “ripple effect” upon people we know (as well as many that we don’t know). Such consideration should, hopefully, motivate us to seek guidance from the One who knows the way that we take and to trust that His plans are always for our good.

This video is for my Mother, who loves and lives by the words contained herein: