O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do.
Psalm 71:17 NLT
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I don’t remember when or where I heard it first, but the saying is true: It takes a village to raise a child. We are committed to using every corner of our village with the boys we’ve been given charge of.

• Grandparents to bring a well-rounded perspective and wisdom that KNOWS how to not sweat the small stuff.
• Aunt & Uncles to remind us of what we did when we were kids, encourage us to repeat old traditions and make some new ones.
• Teachers everywhere to joyfully, tirelessly feed our kids new information.
• Siblings and friends with which to practice loving our neighbor as ourselves.
• Babysitters who can show love and care when we parents need a sanity break.

And the list goes on – too many to count! However, even with all these partners, I still worry. I worry about what the future will hold for my kids. I evaluate and re-evaluate what I’m doing for them versus what I could be doing [better]. Once, I even worried so much that I bought a book on being the best Mother-in-law so that I could prepare for future daughter-in-law encounters. (My boys are 3, 4, 10 and 18 – worry wart much?!)

This is where David’s wisdom in Psalms found me this past week. Worrying. And he gave me the perfect antidote for my disease called worry.

O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood, and I have constantly told others about the wonderful things you do. Now that I am old and gray, do not abandon me, O God. Let me proclaim your power to this new generation, your mighty miracles to all who come after me. (Psalm 71:17-18 NLT)

These verses reminded me that GOD is my village! He taught David, me and my kids from earliest childhood. He teaches all of us constantly how to love, how to forgive and where our treasures lie. Even if I and all my earthly community fails, my kids will still have God – the very best Father – to teach them. So, since the weight of the world doesn’t have to be on my shoulders, I can then joyfully proclaim His power to this new generation. All the time and energy I spent worrying can be re-routed to the awesome task of sharing God’s mighty miracles to all who come after me.

God knows what it’s like to have a son. He is familiar with all of our trials. That’s why he sent his own precious son to die for us, making us his sons and daughters and no longer orphans of eternity. What else could there be to worry about?! In the words of the hymn “In Christ Alone”: From life’s first cry, to final breath: Jesus commands my destiny.”

Challenge: Each time I begin to worry, I will halt the urge to create a plan and instead use that energy to recall and share a miracle God has allowed me to witness.

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Dear Lord, I am your child and you have cared for me from my first breath. Please keep me from being afraid for my future or that of my children. You know the plans you have for us. Let me use my breath to instead proclaim your power and mighty miracles to all who come after me. Amen.