There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1

Have you ever shaken a bottle of something to make what’s inside come out faster? You know… the shampoo bottle, the ketchup bottle, or the squeezable jelly bottle. Sometimes when you shake the contents of a bottle to the opening, you get what’s inside to move faster.

This morning my daughter and I were in the bathroom getting dressed for school. We have those two minute sand timers for the kids to use while brushing their teeth so they know exactly how long to brush.

My five-year-old daughter has quite a bit of energy. In fact, she almost never sits still. She is not the type to cuddle up on the couch and snuggle. She would much rather be running around the house or the yard. Many days I find myself saying to her, “would you please be still, just for a few minutes!” My husband says she’s just like me. She always has to be doing something.

A few days ago, she woke up early and came to my bedroom. I invited her to climb into my bed to snuggle. To my surprise, she did.

I hate to admit it, but I come from a long line of “worriers.” My grandmother is famous for worrying.

When my husband and I went on our honeymoon, we left our car at her house. She asked for the keys so in case a storm came up and lightning hit the house and it caught on fire, she could move the car. She says “you never know what might happen.”

I know… it seems ridiculous. She lets her imagination run wild. She comes up with all sorts of worse case scenarios. But if we are honest, how many of us spend precious moments of our lives worrying about what might happen?

Times are hard for everyone. Evil is everywhere. Crime is rampant. The economy is falling apart. People are losing jobs. I turn on the news and am overwhelmed with the stories I see reported. And I don’t even have to go to the television to know people are facing difficult situations. I have friends with marriages falling apart, husbands who have lost jobs, children who are facing sickness; friends who are facing depression, the loss of a spouse, bankruptcy. We have faced our own share of problems recently with my son’s health. On the surface it seems there is much reason to lament and cry out that God doesn’t care; He’s not really in control of things or He wouldn’t allow such heartache.