When problems were small

I was a shy child. Growing up on a farm, five miles out of town, I didn't go to daycare and my playmates were my older siblings. So when I went to kindergarten it was a scary experience. I think they would call it social anxiety now or separation anxiety. I didn't have a lot of social skills.

And my biggest problems and fear when I got over the culture shock was how kids treated me (being a redhead with big blue eyes kids would pick on me) and my issues with the alphabet! Yep, I struggled with the alphabet! I always got the letters M and N mixed up, I couldn't remember which one came first and I used to fret and worry and get worked up about it. I remember my older brother sitting in the car with me before going into school trying to help me remember M before N! Ahh....those were the days. Don't sweat the small stuff would be a good piece of advice then.

My mom used to say when you are small your troubles are small, when you get bigger the troubles get bigger. She usually used this reference when referring to your own children. When they are babies you worry about them eating enough or if they are warm or cold and that kind of thing. As they get older the worries get bigger,  are they keeping up with other kids their age, reading-wise or growth-wise. And as they hit the teenage years you worry about the friends they have, or who's house they are at and then they go to college and you worry if they are making good choices, if you've taught them enough. Or if they are safe. And when they become adults you worry if they are happy, they like their job, or if they can find a job or the right house that they want to buy....the worries change as your kids get older. I understand what my mom meant all so well and why she always said she prayed for all her kids all the time!

And now I add a new perspective to my worrying, a grandchild. Once again the parent worry, coming from experience, kicks in. But in all of this I've learned over the years that I'm not alone. My worrying is just what you do when you care and love someone. But learning to put it all in God's hands is something I forget. He's got this. And all the worrying in the world isn't going to do any good. God is not going to give us anything that HE and I can't handle TOGETHER.

So as my 30th mother's day rolls around and takes on a new perspective with a grandchild on the way, I can't help but think back to how clueless and inexperienced and not understanding what my mom meant by those words back 30 years ago was as I waiting for my son to arrive. I've learned a ton over the past 30 years. And I couldn't have done it without God's help!

Happy Mother's day to all the moms and dads out there. Most all have filled the roll of both/either/or to their kids.