I was in the parking lot of one of my favorite stores the other day cruising around slowly trying to grab a close spot because it was raining.  I saw a car backing out so I readied mysyelf to grab this spot with a victorious feeling. As I veered out slightly so I could park nice and straight, a car came in from the other side and stole it from me! The nerve! Sadly, I had to park further away and ended up entering the store soaked…and let’s be real, I wasn’t thinking nice thoughts about my mysterious parking space thief! 

So, late-lee, I have found myself thinking about the incident and realized our minds are kind of like parking lots. We can fill them with so many wonderful thoughts. . We may be reliving celebrations, parties, new jobs or any other positive things that we wish to ponder on.  As those thoughts replay in our minds like a beautiful movie, the scenes can be quickly cut by one negative event.  Perhaps it was a presentation you were doing and someone made a rude comment. Or maybe you had an employee blame you for all of their unhappiness. How about this one? You look in the mirror and think you are too large or too thin or too old or just too you! Those negative thoughts slide into your mind as quickly as that car slid into my parking space that day. And there they remain…and linger…and make you think everything is negative. 

Has that ever happened to you? You feel like your happy thoughts were seized and held captive by an army of darkness. I’m willing to bet you have. Some of us (including me at times) have a hard time shaking it. I struggle with putting negative comments or worries out of my head  so they persistently replay like a broken record reminding me over and over I’m just not worthy or I may be lacking in something.   I’m disappointed that I even allow myself to surrender to these types of thoughts. I mean I am always preaching  to others about checking out the bright side of things, but the reality is that I, too, get down sometimes.  I just choose not to stay in that gloomy spot for very long.  Loving yourself means loving flaws and all.  It means not comparing yourself to someone else. Maybe they are thinner, stronger, or prettier. Maybe others don’t worry like you do. It doesn’t matter because each of us are perfectly made in God’s image.

I’m a professed worry-wart! The worry I carry with me is so against God’s plan. In Matthew 6:27 we are reminded, “ Can any one of you add one single hour to your life by worrying?” The answer to that is a resounding no! It simply steals our joy! With all of the worrying I’ve done in my life, I’ve probably reduced it by years.  Worry steals my thoughts often. 

All of the worry I’ve had throughout my life has not just parked in my thoughts, it’s moved in like an unwanted house guest parked in a winnebago much like the Griswold’s cousin. Because of this, I’ve had a lot of anxiety lately. My chest tightens and my heart races. Sometimes I can’t even pinpoint the cause of it. My husband has always told me that he doesn’t have to worry because I’ll worry enough for the both of us. It actually started in my childhood. My dad would call me a candyass anytime I began to worry or feared something.  I’ve had great friends who have helped me over this hump. They are great at listening, giving much needed hugs, and simply letting me be me.

I’m ready to move this winnebago of worry  parked in my brain right on out!  How about you? I’m working very hard to live like Phillipians 4: 6-7 says we should,  “ 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

We have so much to be thankful for in our lives. Are we perfect? No.  We are going to be greeted with cloudy days that seem full of nothing but rainy negativity. On those days, remember that the day following many terrible storms is full of beauty and wonder!  Life happens. Bad things happen. But, if we celebrate the life that God has given us, we’ll no longer let cars of negative energy steal our thoughts and stay parked in our brains.  We’ll look past the worry to find the peace and hope that only God can give us! Think about it like this…even in the midst of an icy storm (if you get past the initial brrr of it all)  you find the beauty in the icicles, snowflakes, white colored trees, etc.

I love that Philippians 4:8 tells us to think “… whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.” I plan to use this verse to remind me to park my mind in a better spot when another winnebago of negativity tries to move in!

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