Friday, December 23, 2011

Don't Worry, Be Happy!


"Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear. For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing. Look at the ravens. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?" Luke 12:22-26
 “No worries” is an expression that we often hear! Or, “Don't Worry, Be Happy!” was a song by Bobby McFarrin that summed it up too. So easy to be said, but Jesus was the originator of this. Just as in Luke 12:22-26, Jesus tells us to not worry about things in life for what will it do for you? It does nothing for you. God provides everything that you need, so why even go there to that place of worry? The verse that sums it all up is verse 25, “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” So true! Worrying gets you nowhere. I think of the people that are in Hospice right now and they would give everything they have to be in our shoes...they would be happy to take your worry right now and trade place with you. All those worries about getting the cookies baked, gifts wrapped, cards sent out, shopping done, finding parking places in malls, the patients in Hospice would take it all for you because they have lost everything and they are now in the last moments of their life and all of those worries are meaningless. We need to be at that same place as them. What really matters? What is it that counts in our life right now? It is our relationship with God and the relationships with others. As Jesus summed it up, we are to do two things, LOVE GOD AND LOVE OTHERS. That is what is important. So, may I encourage you, to focus today on what is really important and get your priorities straight. May all of our eyes be on Jesus and celebrate the blessings that we have today.