Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

It’s the Sunday before Christmas.  A perfect time to reflect on joy.  Today our Joy Note #7 is about turning worries to blessings.

Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

I realize I have shared these song lyrics with you before from the movie “White Christmas.” This song, performed Bing Crosby, takes a focus off worries and turns them to blessings.

Betty Haynes (played by Rosemary Clooney) is doing what most women do…worrying about her younger sister, Judy (Vera-Ellen) and their income from the entertainment industry. 

Bob Wallace (Bing) assures her that her sleep will come when she ceases to worry so much, but instead to count blessings.

WORRIES ROB OUR JOY

Joy Note #7: Turn Worries to blessings

I know this worry- world really well, and how worry can be a joy robber.  I think when I was in the delivery room with our first baby, I also delivered a Certificate of Worry.  It was not a part of my life really until I became a mother.  Gripping that certificate tightly has often been a problem for me. Now as a grandmother, if I am not careful, worry will rob sleep, joy, health…anything positive.  I have even at times allowed worry and anxiety to stop me from living a full productive life.

So often, worry is about our control…we want to control what happens around us (and our families) and get very worried when we realize we cannot.  This is how worry controlled my mother.  Now, as I parent adult children and have no control over their decisions, I see how worrying about it can set in and rob my daily joy if I give it permission to do so.

Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

Giving up the world of worry has not been an easy one for me.  However, it has improved so much with my closer relationship with God.  The more I pray about what worries me and the more I stay closer to HIM, the more at peace I am. If I give my worries to God and trust Him with the results, then I walk each day in peace with a smile.

Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

It never ceases to amaze me how much I bring to the Lord every day to get it off my worry plate.  Just when I think things are settling down, my daughter’s family moves to the country…in Texas that often means rattlesnakes.  And it has meant rattlesnakes.  With three grandsons, I pray over those snakes every day!

Specific prayer is powerful prayer.

A daily commitment to prayer has taken the worries and turned them into blessings.  Rather than obsess over those rattlesnakes, I thank God for the joy of the three and focus on the smiles they bring to me daily….then remind myself to trust “the protector” with their safety.

TURN WORRIES TO BLESSINGS

Joy Note #7: Turn worries into blessings

Listen to today’s song….when worry begins to set in, count your blessings.  Oh yeah…and let’s not forget George Bailey had to learn this…eventually Clarence helped him to see and count his blessings…and Clarence got his wings!!  Two great movies…add watching “It’s a Wonderful Life” to “White Christmas” and be encouraged this week.

I believe one of the reasons I have not worried through the pandemic is because I daily count my blessings as part of my morning prayer. I chose to focus on the blessings and silver linings (and there have been many) one day at a time.  I could easily lose my joy to the fact that I am 68; with asthma; pleasing plump; and, for sure, high risk.  But, due to my asthma and my allergies, I have been high risk most of my life….at any time I could go down to the flu, RSV, or pneumonia as easily as COVID.

The last two years I have chosen to focus positively on building my immunity, dealing with my allergy and sinus issues, getting serious about weight loss, and trusting God.  Then, I use wisdom daily with my choices, and remember worry will only hurt me more. The pandemic has thus been a tutor for me to learn healthier ways of thinking through difficulties.

Joy Note #7: Turn worries to blessings

ONE DAY AT A TIME is a powerful way to live in order to control worry about the future.   How can I make today…a gift I have been given…the best day full of joy?

I hope all of you fellow worry-warts will join me in living this way, and consider daily prayer as a way to begin the day.  It does something powerful in our lives…delivers gifts of peace and joy!

Now, count your blessings instead of sheep and be sure you….

 

KEEP SMILING!!


 

By Pamela Lutrell

 

Season of Joy on Over 50 Feeling 40

30 Comments

  1. I love this, and it’s so, so true. Worry and fear are the biggest stumbling blocks and joy robbers! I have learned that nothing productive is accomplished through worry, yet I find myself right back there, though doing better. Like for you, prayer is much more productive for me because I’m turning over the control I never had to the One completely in control. It’s a huge relief! Actually, like you too, I have not worried at all since the onset of covid, and I even had it!! I know God has numbered my days, He is in control of every single day and nothing is catching Him off guard. This has helped me through so much craziness! We mess up, but we don’t have the final say. It’s challenging with adult kids and then the grandkids, but I keep turning them over to the One who can do something about everything, in His timing! Much more peaceful way to live!

  2. Thank you Pamela! As a worry wort this advice is invaluable!
    Hugs to you and Happy Holidays!
    I look forward to your posts in 2022.

  3. I love this post Pam. I am such a worrier. Prayer really does help but at times I get so angry with God when it seems joy seems to be taken away frequently. I have really never trusted happiness but have known it many times in my life.

    Merry Christmas and thank you for your blog!

  4. Thank you, Kelley. Happiness is often fleeting, but joy is eternal. Happiness will come and go, but underneath it my joy is based on an understanding of God’s word and His promises…He is real and alive!

  5. Thank you so much for posting this…..I’m one of those worry warts. I needed to hear this. Christmas blessings to you and your family.

  6. What a powerful message to all of us as we turn our worries over to our God at this Christmas season. I’m older (86) than lots of you and so blessed by your witness. My husband went to Heaven in November and I have not lost my joy!!! I have wonderful memories, family and friends (I count you as friends too).

  7. We are friends, Genevieve! I am so sorry for your loss, yet, glad you still have joy and I know you will walk the golden streets of heaven with him one day. Thank you for sharing!

  8. I’m really not much of a “worry-wart”, but I’m reminded how one of our sons while growing up used to worry about things like nuclear war and invasions from Russia. No matter my efforts to convince him it did no good to worry about things he could not control, he still worried. Now as a practicing attorney he continues to worry but often about the problems of others which makes him very dedicated. But that worries me because he seems to carry the load of others. However, I think as I age (75) , I am much more aware of our blessings. I say a prayer of thanks every morning as I awaken that we have opportunity to live another day. As a cancer survivor for more than 25 years now, I know I am blessed. Hope you have a wonderful, less-stressed week filled with much joy and laughter!

  9. I too needed this today-thank you! Merry Christmas to you and your family and a blessed new year!

  10. Congratulations to you as a cancer survivor! I also have an adult child who worries and I pray over her daily. Thanks for sharing, Celia.

  11. I liked your statement about giving worry permission to rob you of your daily joy. Learning to control my thoughts is a daily battle. Many years ago, someone said, “You don’t have to think on every thought that comes into your head.” Giving our worries to God & counting our blessings are certainly ways to hang on to our precious sense of joy. Peace, love, joy & hope to all this Christmas.

  12. Pamela – I turn to Matthew 6:27,33-34 when worries start to get to me. Have a Merry, Blessed Christmas and New Year, you and yours.

  13. What a beautiful post today, Pam.

    I am reminded of my favorite bible passage …
    Proverbs 3:5-6.

    It’s so wonderful to be reminded to trust in the Lord. Especially during the Christmas season.

    Blessings to you!

  14. Wonderful post. Thank you for sharing. I also try to do something for someone when I am feeling worried; it lifts my spirit and helps me see the beauty all around us. A Merry Christmas to you and your family.

  15. So true, Mary….when we place our eyes on serving others it will always take our eyes off what is causing us to worry!!

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