Lent: Day 35

“And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?” – Matthew 6:27

When I was in high school, our choir sang the musical “Celebrate Life” by Buryl Red. The song that affected me most was the one Mary sang after Jesus was crucified. She sang “He died alone, forsaken. Let him rest, let him rest for a while.” She pleads with the guards to “Carry Him gently.” Now that I am a mother, I can’t imagine the pain Mary experienced, knowing that her son was destined for greatness, but also for great tragedy. How could she handle it?

I am a worrier. I come by it naturally – both my grandmother and my dad worried a lot. I want to protect my daughter from bad things happening to her. But I also know that I can’t be with her every second. She grows more independent each day, and that’s the way it should be. When I start to worry, I have to remember Jesus’ words. He mentions the birds of the air and the lilies of the field. God takes care of them and he will certainly take care of my family. My faith lets me trust that God will always watch out for us. Things may not go the way I expect them to, but God is with us – always.

Prayer: Father, I know you are with us. Please help me to remember this and to trust in you in all things, always. Amen.