The Worry Box....

WARNING! This will be a long post....I hope my loyal readers/followers will see it through to the end. Go on ahead and grab a cup of caffeinated coffee or your favorite caffeinated pop (yep, we say "pop" here in Kansas). You might need it....if you're in it for the long haul.

This post is one I have debated even posting, but I decided to write a bit from my heart...decided to get a bit personal...I'm doing this in hopes of helping somebody else.

Before I get to the point of this post, I must give two points of background information about myself....So, here they go.

1) The summer between my sophomore and junior years in college, a very good statistics professor at Wichita State University helped me figure out that I was very much a visual learner. I was struggling with something in that class. One day, I was down in her office, and she helped me with a visual exercise which in turn very much helped me get through that class with a very decent grade. Since that time (this would've been the summer of 1996), I have used that same technique in many other avenues of life. Yes, I am indeed a visual learner.

I do think that, because I am such a visual learner, sometimes I do struggle a bit with prayer, why I should pray when God already knows what I need/want...In other words, I can't see God. Why do I pray to Him? In fact, sometimes I think that if I didn't see clear evidence of God's creation (people, geography on earth, etc.), I would seriously wonder a bit more.

But, I do know for a fact that God does exist...not only because of His miraculous creation but because of how much my heart has been changed over the years by His Spirit within me.

Also, it clearly states in Hebrew these words....

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

2) I am a worrier. I come from a family of worriers. I have made fun of my grandmother in the past for being such a worrier, though I know that, in this case, the "apple doesn't fall far from the tree."

My husband has told me I worry too much. When I was pregnant with Luke, the nurse-practitioner who works with my doctor told me I was a worrier.

The list about worrying goes on and on and on....

I recently read in a devotion book that "worrying" is a sin because it is clear-cut evidence of disbelief in God.

Whoa! That one sentence hit home to me BIG TIME!

Here's a photo, a self-portrait even, of me this afternoon....It's kind of a weary look. It's a look I think I have quite a bit. I can tell by looking at this photo that I have A LOT on my mind.



*****

O.K., to the point....

This summer, I've been going through this previously mentioned devotional book with a long-distance friend, a blogging friend whom I've actually never met in person (you know who you are -- you live way too far from here, on the east coast).

One of the chapters mentioning creating a "God Box." I've been saying for probably six weeks now that I was going to do this. Though my "To Do" list was quite long today, I did still carve out time during Luke's nap today to actually make this box -- finally.

It's something visual (remember -- I'm a visual person)...It's something that I think could work GREAT with children. In fact, I will remember this for Luke someday if he takes on worrying like me.

This is something I wish I'd thought of for VBS a few weeks ago....One of the lessons was on "giving your worries and cares to God." This would've been a FANTASTIC little visual project for the kids.

First, I took an empty shoebox I didn't need....



Second, I found some wrapping paper I had in my collection. I had this cute polka dot paper....



Third, I taped the shoebox completely closed!!!!



Fourth, I wrapped the shoebox....





Fifth, I took a razor and cut a small hole in the wrapped box....





Sixth, and I know some of you would get WAY MORE decorative and fancy, I took a permanent marker pen and wrote some of my favorite verses on the box....I picked mainly verses about anxiety and worry.

And, on top, I wrote "Not My Will, but Your's."

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. I Peter 5:7



Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7



Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34



Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2



O Lord, the God who saves me, day and night I cry out before you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to hear my cry. Psalm 88:1-2



And, Voila -- the finished product! It really didn't even take that much time to make.



And tonight, I wrote out several slips of paper for this box....



And tonight, I released several HUGE worries of mine right now to God....



Now, the book (where I got this idea) suggests to NEVER look at these worries/requests again....They're given to God, after all. However, I did date them. When the box is full, and I haven't fully decided on this yet, I may look back. I'd like to see how my worries and prayer requests were answered. I know my friend, Debby, journals all requests and then keeps track of answered prayers. This could be my way of doing just that.

Who knows, though????

At first, when I read about this, I thought it was sort of silly to have a "God Box." After all, God is everywhere -- He's not just in a box. But, after I thought about it for awhile AND I also remembered just how much of a visual person I am, I realized that this was a good idea for me.

It is amazing...I did put some serious things in there tonight. I do feel them lifted off of me right now.

Thanks for reading about something deeply personal to me!