By JANET HART LEONARD
From the Hart
Dear God, I pray that you give focus to my heart, and direction to my mind, while keeping the distractions of the day from interrupting my time with you.
And so, I continue my prayer . . .
God, you know my heart. I open up my left eye and glance out the window from the table in my kitchen. Oh, look, the birdfeeder needs birdseed due to the invasion of Bushy, the Squirrel. Yes, we have named the cute little thief.
After putting on my new favorite Skechers, I head to the garage to scoop up two cups of cardinal-attracting bird seed. After filling the birdfeeder, I notice a few weeds sneaking into the flowerbed. My flowers are clinging to life in the final days of their growing season. In a few days, I will be giving them their last rites as winter arrives, much to my dismay. I give the pesky weeds a sharp yank and carry them over to the garbage container. That reminds me that the trash can in the kitchen is full and I need to empty it and take it out.
I return to the kitchen table. I remember I need to start the laundry. Then I realize that I need to add detergent to the grocery list.
Today, the squirrels are out and about on the trails, gathering nuts as well as scampering amongst the ever-color-changing trees. The squirrels in my mind are having a heyday. All the squirrels are working overtime, creating havoc.
God, you are the source of my hope and strength. I bring the desires as well as the concerns of my heart to you. I need the wisdom to deal with the Brillo pad people in my life. Help me to love them well, in spite of the hurt they cause. Father God, I ask you to give the doctors wisdom as they try to find the source of my friend’s lung and heart issues. I ask . . .
My phone rings. I glance down and see that it is the hospital calling me. I just had my mammogram, perhaps there is an issue. I feel a tinge of panic. I swipe to answer the call. The hospital is asking me to take a survey. Have I mentioned I am not a fan of surveys? I hang up.
Where was I? Oh, yes.
God, you are my provider. You give strength to my weary heart. It has become weary with concerns that have made me fret and now I am deep into worry. I’m sorry I tend to worry when your word says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 NIV
Sometimes I need to look up words and their meaning, so I check the definition of anxiety in the dictionary app on my phone. I realize I have what the dictionary calls extreme uneasiness of mind. I think that uneasiness has found its way to my heart. This causes emotional baggage that I carry around as I fight off the worry. Worry is a Goliath in my life. I think I inherited it from my mother. She had so much faith, but still, she tended to worry.
Okay, God, I’m back to talk to you. Thank you for loving me in spite of my tendency to worry and chase squirrels.
My prayers aren’t always moments of deep concentration and spiritual dialogue but more like verbal wanderings with squirrel sightings where I tend to allow my distracted thoughts to interrupt my conversations with God.
When I am floundering in fret or knee-deep in worry, I just bring the words to God, scattered though they may be, and He calms my mind as well as my heart as I am reminded that in every situation, He will guard my heart and mind against the Goliaths of which I find myself facing.
And … I believe He loves our conversations in spite of my tendency to chase squirrels.
Thank you, God, for unscrambling my thoughts as they venture down the birdfeeder while chasing squirrels. Thank you for the answers you will provide even when I don’t know how to pray for them. Help me to accept your answers even when they aren’t what I prayed for. Amen.
I may never pray perfect prayers, but I am thankful for a God who hears my rambling words and calms my heart’s anxiousness … in spite of the squirrels.
Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.