“Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?”
It is time for my sons’ annual wellness visit – the time to measure heights and weights and milestones…. and sometimes the time to get shots as well. I try to hide this fact from them each year but when my boys asked me point blank this morning if they were going to get shots at their annual wellness visit this afternoon… the best I could muster was “I don’t think so?” The oldest insisted that he was all done with shots (yea, good luck with that buddy). The twins, on the other hand, got a little quiet. Their lips quivered and they each said barely above a whisper: “I don’t want any shots.” I tried to distract them by asking what kind of milkshake they would want after the appointment, but the best they could give me was a shaky “ch-ch-chocolate.” Finally, I told them it was no use worrying about what they could not control.
And then as they moved onto other things, I laughed inside a little at how ironic that advice was coming from me. It’s been less than 24 hours since I wasted time worrying about one or more things I could not control. I’m amazed by how easily they seem to let things go when as adults we can often let things fester and linger inside. Even when we know the truth of St. Matthew’s words, “Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan?”
The Gospel goes onto say:
“If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ … Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom [of God] and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for today is its own evil.” (MT 6: 30-34)
How will you let go of worry today and lean into faith?
