FEAR OR HEALTHY RESPECT?

 My daughter's four offspring are growing up!  Not very often do they require baby-sitting by Lulu since the oldest will soon be 15 and the next in line will be 13 this week.  They are old enough to tend to the two littles---unless they are both busy.  They lead VERY busy lives!  Both are playing junior high football and those are late Tuesday nights.  I go and stay with the littles to get them to bed on time those nights.  

Last ballgame, The ONLY Granddaughter announced she was afraid when I tried to leave her for the night after bedtime reading.  She announced there might be ghost.  THANKS A LOT HALLOWEEN HYPE!  There was NO convincing her otherwise and it was LONG after bedtime before I finally got her settled down.  Fear is a powerful emotion.

BUT Lulu has come up with an idea.  I did a little reading on the WWW and it turns out there are several plants including easy to grow basil, rosemary, and lavender which all chase the ghosts away.  I plan to purchase at least one--maybe more and put it in her room.  I will then show her the evidence on the WWW which she loves.  HOPEFULLY---I will convince her she has no more worries,  with said plant warding off the ghost, about going to sleep and teach her how to care for a plant at the same time.  WIN - WIN

Do you have fears that keep you awake at night?  I must admit--though I might obsess at times---I do not lose sleep over fear.  Instead of a fear controlling me, I choose to have a healthy respect for some things.  Those things which I can plan for--I do.  Those things which I have no control over I let go.  Some of the drivers in Texas seem to be either angry or training for the Indianapolis 500.  I am a little fearful of driving on the roads here.  I plan carefully the times I will be on the roads (NEVER during rush hour) and drive with my eye out for the other drivers.  I DO NOT stay at home in a blanket of fear.

We are clearly instructed in The Word what God wants us to do with our fears and perhaps this is the best thing we could possibly do~

"Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed,

for I am your Go;

I will strengthen you,

I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Isaiah 41:10