From childhood we are given an “I can do attitude” and stories to show how all dreams can be accomplished. A the mantra that I was raised with for this attitude came from the classic children’s book The Little Engine that Could and a character who repeated over and over again “I think I can, I think I can” until he was able to successfully achieve his goal of getting the train over the big mountain. A more recent version of this, in my opinion, comes from Finding Nemo and the lovable character of Dorie (voiced by the amazing Ellen Degeneres) who tells her new friend to not worry but to “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”
These last few weeks as I close one chapter of my life, begin a new one and feel completely overwhelmed with each step of the journey I find myself trying to remember these mantras. Just this morning in the shower I was flooded with thoughts of being overwhelmed but I was reminded of little Dorie and her just keep swimming attitude. Then a funny thing happened, I was reminded of the Biblical nature of this mantra and how silly it is that it is easier for me to remember that a little engine or a blue fish told me I could do it yet ignore my Heavenly Father’s constant promise that I can do this (Phil. 4:13), that I am not alone (Hebrews 13:5) and that I should not worry (Matt. 6:35). Over and over in the Bible God shows His provisional power for His children and His desire to take care of us. He is in control, I am not yet I fret and lose sleep as though I am the one in charge here. Two years ago I had a good friend give me a book for my birthday that I knew looked good but put it on the bookshelf for another day. I recently picked it back up and I have been immensely blessed by the words so eloquently written by Max Lucado. His book, Traveling Light: Releasing the Burdens You Were Never Intended to Bear takes a walk through Psalm 23 and the realistic way that God, our Shepherd, loves us, provides for us and is with us on each step of our journeys. I know for me, Psalm 23 is a chapter that I have grown up with but I had become complacent to just how deep these words are and the impact that trusting them could have for my stress level. If you have a spare minute this week, check it out and take a minute to think about how God cares for us. I just have to remind myself to keep focused on His word and His version of the “I can do it” mantras. God is Good.
First - I'm upset because I kept thinking you weren't writing anything. Because it doesn't show up in my feed. BUT you are writing things. You're just being sneaky about it! Whew.
ReplyDeleteI love this. I feel like we are on the exact same wave length right now. What you just wrote are all of the things I have been thinking lately. To a T. (I don't understand that phrase.)