ANXIETY--RX

So much one could say but....

...sometimes a Lockhart, Alabama "pithy grabbing" church sign can say it BEST....

along with God's word!

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. (Philippians 4:6-7)

Visual road reminders and God's word, (Psalm 34:4) a great RX for anxiety.

Pithy Grabbers

Succinct phrases that "grab" your attention have been dubbed by me as pithy grabbers----of which, I am a fan! No one knows that better than ljj who finally made a "pithy grabbers" file for our library.

When entertaining, Mother 's pithy grabber was, "a doily covers a multitude of sins" (think foibles/faux pas/mess) 

"My" Molly & I are always saying a doily covers a multitude of something__________.

Recently  she added "a vest is the doily of outerware as it covers a multitude of sin__________(think overeating) 

Religiously I assume that the Catholic doily-like head-coverings worn by women and the skullcap/yarmulke worn by Jewish men are an example of penitence as a way of "covering a multitude of sins" so that they can honor God.

Church Signs 

especially in the "South" 

often display thoughts that are....

pithy with a punch----

packing a lot of weight 

to remind others of "doing right!"

Sweet friend, Margie Hornor, is always adding to my "pithy" repertoire. She introduced me to arrow prayers.  Just those  two words indicate the forceful trajectory of said prayers----launched from earth and heading upward to God. 

Panic Prayers are similar (pithy plus alliterative, of which I am also a fan). Think URGENCY in all CAPS when there's no time for words. "HELP!" comes to mind

Recently Margie introduced me to "stinking thinking." Doesn't that just "reek" of negativity. 

The good news is, she gave a remedy for the stinking diagnosis---a grateful heart!

Dorm friend, Susan Featherston Coates, who knew me well suggested a pithy grabber for my tombstone---"just down for a quick nap." NOT only do fewer letters appeal to this "frugal fanny," but it lets the world know of my sleep patterns.

Nowadays, I'm rethinking that choice.

How's this for a tea aficionado?

"She ran out of tea." More a epithet than an epitaph....but it's a perfect final "pithy grabber" for me!

PANIC PRAYERS

Anxiety can be a real "panic prayer" inducer,

Earlier blog entries show that I have been sipping from this cuppa of anxiety far too often through the years.

11/22/10 and 6/16/13. Yet, I omitted a cuppa anxie-TEA in 2014 when I wrote 366 "tea" entries. Maybe it's because that year was a "call" to blog daily and I had to trust the One who called me! He was my "focus" and the blog entries were an overflow of that relationship. Even if anxiety was mentioned in an entry, the cuppa chosen for "focus" was NOT anxie-TEA!

So why am I seemingly back to square one---my humanity, filled too often with worry and fear.

Sadly, once again, I am one of those "fretful folks" Pastor Cole alluded to a few weeks ago, as he described living in a catastrophe culture. Daily we "panicky people" tend to live in a state of emergency. Even our news describes emergency alerts as though each viewer can do something about each event. As if there was an element of control for which we are responsible.

Globally, I am disturbed but realize my limitations. On the other hand, personally, anxious thoughts can still consume me---holding me captive, over people and health and events which I cannot control.

So what's one to do with these consuming fears and apprehensions?

REFOCUS!
PRAY---Don't panic!!

Shrink that cuppa! Lay it all at His feet.

Claim victory. (Romans 8:37)